Pearson out to repeat Cup heroics

Celtic midfielder Stephen Pearson revealed he has already netted a cup final winner at Hampden Park – and that the goal was a key moment in his meteoric rise to stardom.

The 21-year-old, who has already broken into the Scotland side, is hoping for a start in the Hoops’ Tennent’s Scottish Cup final with Dunfermline tomorrow.

The midfielder has enjoyed two excellent seasons and joined boyhood heroes Celtic from Motherwell in January in a £350,000 (€519,900) deal.

But Pearson revealed he almost missed the professional boat altogether.

He said: “I played in an U18s Scottish Schools' final and I scored the winner against Dumfries High – with my right foot.

“I was 18 at the time. That was where I got picked up by Motherwell. I went there on trial, signed a YTS contract and it just went on from there.”