Scottish Communities League Cup final: St Mirren captain Jim Goodwin vows to put team before himself

In fact, he is not yet absolutely certain to lead the Buddies out in their bid to win a first trophy in 26 years, because of a comparatively minor but recurrent problem.

“I’m really looking forward to the final now,” said the Irishman. “I was a bit concerned when the niggle happened because I had a calf strain last year. At the scan then, I was told it would take 10 to 14 days. I came back into training after 10 days and ended up being out for seven weeks.

“I was told the same again when I went for a scan this time – a 10-to-14 day job but it’s now been 18 days. I trained on Tuesday and was a little bit cautious at first, but as the session went on I felt more confident.

“The important thing was the reaction the next day. I got out of bed on Wednesday morning and felt fine.”

Yes, but what will he do if there is even a hint of doubt on Sunday morning?

“That’s the big thing,” said Goodwin. “Everyone would want to declare themselves fit for the game because it is such a huge occasion. but I spoke to the manager at the start of the week and said the last thing I wanted was to play the final half-fit and be the cause of the team losing.

“It’s important that everyone who goes on the park for us is 100 per cent. We are not that good a team that we can afford to carry passengers.”

To add to Goodwin’s frustration about the waiting game he has had to endure, he finished Saints’ 3-2 semi-final defeat of Celtic convinced that he had already ruled himself out of any further participation in the competition.

“I got booked in the Celtic game and we all thought at the time that I was one of those a booking away from missing the final,” said the 31-year-old.

“Then someone from the SFL came into the dressing room with the rule book – and there it was in black and white. I had just got out the shower and the guy was there. I wasn’t 100 per cent sure until that moment.

“After that, I got the calf strain so you do wonder what is going on.

"It’s been a long time since the Celtic game. We had to be as professional as possible in the few league games we had but this is always at the back of your mind. We had a chance of the top six but that’s gone now. This will be the defining moment of our season.”

It is never wise to predict the defining moment of a Hearts season, such is the frequency of turmoil at Tynecastle. Gary Locke has been in charge of the team since John McGlynn became the club’s latest managerial casualty at the end of last month and Hearts’ captain, Andy Webster, denied that the players are now indifferent to the instability that so frequently affects the club.

“Someone asked me the other week if you become immune to the off-field stuff,” said the defender. “I think that’s a wee bit unfair.

“People are losing their jobs. The manager recently lost his and you are saddened by these things but you need to pick yourself up, dust yourself down and get on with it.

“The things that you focus on as a footballer are the things you can influence, whether that is training or matches, so from that point of you want other people to do their job and let the footballers do theirs.”

Webster is bidding for his third trophy in as many years and to pick up consecutive medals, following last year’s Scottish Cup demolition of arch-rivals Hibernian. “We are going for back to back trophies and we have a great opportunity to do that,” said Webster.

“From a cup point of view it speaks volumes for our consistency, though from a league point of view less so, but I think we have shown a bit of form in the League Cup and the Scottish Cup last season.”

By contrast, St Mirren’s three trophy wins span 87 years and have all been in the Scottish Cup, the most recent being in 1987. “It would be great if we could create some history of our own,” said Goodwin.

“What we lack in fanbase and budget, we make up for in team spirit. The performance against Celtic can’t be a one-off. If we reproduce that then, whatever the result on Sunday, we can walk away with our heads high.”

Taken from telegraph.co.uk