Celtic have had a stranglehold on domestic cup competitions now for four years.

Their quadruple Treble success was lauded over and their players have winners' medals overflowing from their trophy cabinet. For Lee O'Connor, though, this afternoon's Football League Trophy final will be his first in professional football.

Despite signing from Manchester United on deadline day 2019, the defender has not been involved in any of Celtic's showpiece clashes at Hampden. The closest he got was watching from the stands as the Hoops narrowly edged out Rangers in the Betfred Cup final of the same year.

But after some terrific results, including a 2-1 win over Peterborough in the quarter-final, and a 2-0 victory over Oxford in the semis, O'Connor will finally get to make his own history when he walks out with loan side Tranmere Rovers at Wembley later today. Sunderland are the opponents but for the 20-year-old it wouldn't matter if it was Barcelona or Rangers' reserve side.

Confidence is flowing through him at the moment with Rovers pushing for promotion from League Two and he has played 30 games this term, the most appearances he has made in a season to date. Initially signed by Neil Lennon as a right-back, O'Connor has been doing the business for Tranmere in any position necessary. And he's willing to show his versatility again in the final.

"It will be a great experience to play at Wembley, it's not every day you get that chance," a beaming O'Connor told Herald and Times Sport. "This will be my first cup final as a player, I've been in the stands watching at Celtic when they played Rangers, but that's the only one I was actually there for.

"It's quite demanding here, we always go out to win. We're pushing for promotion and want to win so it's not much different from being at Celtic that way. Coming through at Manchester United and then going to Celtic I knew that it's all about winning, I haven't really known anything else.

"I think I've been doing well, I can play in different positions and I'll play wherever I'm needed, so I feel this is the best it's been.

"I've played centre-half, I can play at right-back and I've played a bit further forward. I know some people might see that as not having a settled position and what not, but for me I see it as a big plus because I can play anywhere. I don't actually see myself as a right-back, just able to play wherever I'm needed."

Coincidentally, the right-back slot at Parkhead has become somewhat of a tough position for his parent club to fill. Especially since old rival-turned-pal Jeremie Frimpong departed for Bayer Leverkusen earlier this season.

Both O'Connor and Frimpong joined the club at the same time, from either side of the Manchester divide. And the Irishman could see straight away that his new teammate had it in him to make a go of it in Glasgow. As O'Connor was being shipped out on loan to Partick Thistle, Frimpong was establishing himself as Celtic's number one right-back.

But it did not come as a surprise. Nor will it come as a shock, O'Connor says, if his Dutch mate goes on to have success in the Bundesliga. "Jeremie went in and was fantastic," he added. "Welshy (Stephen Welsh) has gone in and done fantastic as well, so they've taken that chance. That's what I want. Anyone who has grown up as a fan will want that, and I feel like I'll always keep working and hopefully it will work out.

"I played against Jeremie when he was at Man City and I was at United. We both came to Celtic on the same day and he did fantastic. I've got no doubt he could do great things in Germany. You could always see he had talent and he hit the ground running at Celtic."

O'Connor had to watch from afar as manager Lennon went through a difficult period before eventually handing in his resignation and leaving the Parkhead hot seat. A dismal Premiership campaign and elimination from the League Cup was enough for him to finally bid farewell.

Fans of the club - certainly in the short-term - won't be singing Lennon's praises, but O'Connor always will. "I'll be forever grateful to Neil for all he has done for me," he said. "He brought me over, he was on the phone to me and convinced me it was the right place for me and gave me the chance to play for such a great club. Being Irish, it was always something I dreamed of, so I'll always be indebted to him.

"These things happen in football but in my opinion he's done a fantastic job at Celtic. Obviously it's not been a great season but he'll always be very highly regarded for everything he's done."