With the first silverware in Scotland being decided this Sunday, Celtic are already eying up a potential domestic treble this season, as they head the Premiership by six points over Aberdeen. Although the European dream is no more, after their plucky but ultimately unrewarding battle in the Europa League against the giants of Italian Football, Inter Milan, they still have much to look forward to in this campaign. In order to keep their hopes alive of taking a clean sweep north of the border, they will have to first get past Dundee United at Hampden at the weekend in the League Cup final, but manager Ronny Deila seems to be looking forward to the challenge.

The 39-year-old Norwegian in charge of the Glasgow side's fortunes is urging his players to "enjoy the moment" in the final, as on a personal note he will be seeking his first trophy in Scotland. With silverware being an essential factor to judge a manager's success or not in the game, especially at a big club like Celtic, he knows that this is a good opportunity to stamp his mark at a relatively early stage in his tenure.

In the build up to the game he has indicated that the possibility of winning everything in Scotland this year is clearly on his mind: "We're in a better position now (to win the treble) than we were in September." However, he has also suggested that losing the final will not be the end of the world to the club, as they still have plenty to fight for, hence his comments about enjoying the experience.

Celtic's chances will have been improved one would think with the news that Virgil van Dijk's ban has been overturned, allowing him to be selected on Sunday. He was sent off in the Scottish Cup tie against United.

His opposite number in the Dundee United dugout, Jackie McNamara, is maybe trying a bit of the old Jose Mourinho mind games on Deila, as he expressed his belief that beating Celtic would represent a "massive upset".

With four games between the two sides in just two weeks, the teams will be getting to know each other pretty well by the end of them and it will be intriguing to see which club gets the upper hand. Their first encounter of the four certainly saw the sparks fly, as they could not be separated in a fractious 1-1 Scottish Cup quarter-final tie last Sunday, although McNamara does not believe that there will be any carry over into the League Cup final as a result.

McNamara will be hoping that his ten years as a player at Celtic count for something, as he attempts to plot his way to success against the Parkhead side, but is quick to point out the "gulf in terms of resources" between the teams and that Celtic "are a major force". What may drive his side on towards a historic triumph will be the memory of their loss in the final of the Scottish Cup final to St Johnstone last season. With that clearly on his mind still, he believes that "it would be good for them to lift a trophy."

Celtic will go into the final as heavy favourites, as ever, but given their performance against them in the Scottish Cup, United can't be counted out. The two sides will then meet again for their Scottish Cup replay on the 18th March, before concluding their four match run of games on the 21st March in the Premiership, both matches being played at Parkhead.