ARMSTRONG’S CELTIC PARK CUP REGRET

STUART ARMSTRONG has set his sights on a Scottish Cup winner’s medal this season.

The rejuvenated Celtic midfielder admits one of the biggest disappointments of his career was being in the Dundee United losing side when they went down 2-0 to St Johnstone in the 2014 Cup Final.

The game had been switched to Celtic Park with Hampden being renovated for the Commonwealth Games and Armstrong, 24, recalled: “I have a runners-up medal and that’s a sore point.

“Winning the League Cup was big for me this season, but I do want to get the Scottish Cup if I can.

“We had a great team at United and it would have been my first winner’s medal. When you spend all season working towards something, come so close and then end up empty-handed, it’s frustrating.

“But that’s football. It makes you stronger. I learned a lot from that game and I think that’s true generally – you learn more from losing than you do by winning.

“It was an important experience, but it’s not one I would want to repeat too often.”

With starlets such as Ryan Gauld, Gary Mackay-Steven and Armstrong on board and striker Nadir Ciftci showing the form that would eventually lead to his own transfer to Celtic, Jackie McNamara’s talented team were expected to dump Tommy Wright’s Perth Saints.

Armstrong added: “If we were going to win it, then I think that was the time.

“St Johnstone were very organised, but we had a few chances. Nads hit the bar and Ryan Dow hit the post – little things like that, if you have a bit of luck it can go a different way. But, ultimately, we were not as good as we could have been on the day.

“I mulled over it for a long time. There was no more football after that game and for the summer it was the only thing to think about.

“I still feel the disappointment when I look back. But if we can make amends this season that would be great.”