Leaders of men: One has yet to make a final appearance while the other is going for a hat trick of Cup victories

ANDY WEBSTER

The Hearts captain is not the sort to hog the limelight, but it appears to find him, none the less. He sat out Hearts' 2006 Scottish Cup win due to the contract wrangle which brought a messy end to his first period at Tynecastle; then he had to watch from the periphery at Rangers as the Ibrox club celebrated trophy after trophy. Just when he might have thought his chance of a trophy had passed him by two came along in quick succession. Sunday's Scottish Communities League Cup final against St Mirren provides a rare opportunity for the 30-year-old to complete a hat trick of major trophy wins, following successive Scottish Cups with Dundee United and Hearts.

As weeks go for Scottish footballers, they don't come much bigger than the chance to lead your team in a League Cup final before a return to Hampden days later to represent your country in a World Cup qualifier.

"It's an exceptional week and that's what you want as a footballer – to perform to your best at the highest level," said Webster, who could partner Gary Caldwell at the back for Scotland against Wales on Friday.

"Cup finals are what you are looking to be part of and obviously being involved with the Scotland squad is another thing you strive for as a footballer. I wasn't overly involved in the finals at Rangers, I tended to be cheering on from the sides," he added. "It's not until you play and feel you are contributing that you feel part of the occasion. But what happened at Rangers is long gone – we are going for back-to-back trophies and we have a great opportunity to do that. Gordon Strachan has picked one team and I've been part of it but whether I play against Wales, you'd be better asking the manager rather than me."

Webster exhibited a strange sense of calm yesterday. So casually was the managerial situation dismissed – the players still do not know whether Gary Locke or Peter Houston will lead them on Sunday –that Webster bristled at the conclusion that he was "immune" to personal details such as John McGlynn's exit, given the regularity with which coaches come and go at Tynescaslte.

"People are losing their jobs, our manager has just lost his job, so you are still saddened by these things but you need to pick yourself up, dust yourself down, and get on with it," he said. "Obviously, these things are discussed but the things you focus on as a footballer are the things you can influence. Whether that is training or matches, that is for other people to do their job and let the footballers do theirs on the pitch."

While this final may struggle to measure up to the epoch-defining 5-1 win against Hibs at Hampden in May, victory on Sunday may be an even greater achievement. The squad has been pared back, there have been fears of administration, the manager has left mid-season, and the club are in the midst of an injury crisis. Webster deserves credit for holding it all together, and adroitly sidestepped questions on whether he would repeat his 2010 gesture to Lee Wilkie and allow injured club captain Marius Zaliukas to lift the trophy with him.

"It is difficult to define a legend. Is it someone who plays 500 games or someone who wins trophies?" said Webster. "Last year it was an Edinburgh derby final. It was great, but it has gone now and our full focus will be Sunday." If the form guide is to be believed, this is a match which could go either way. Or maybe even all the way – to penalties, the manner in which the Tynecastle club made it through the last two rounds. Hearts are a point ahead in the SPL table, but the Paisley side won the last meeting 2-0, the match which eventually did for McGlynn.

Webster feels Locke's tactical tinkering in moving to a 4-4-2 has paid dividends and – linesman's assistance or not – his claim is bolstered by successive clean sheets. "St Mirren can say they've won the last game so want to keep the momentum while we will say we want to right the wrongs. The proof will be in the pudding come Sunday."

Taken from the Herald