Stuart McCall is ready to become Motherwell’s own Clark Kent at Hampden Park this afternoon.

Form suggests that his underdogs will have to perform like Supermen to wrestle the Scottish Cup from Celtic’s grasp.

And while the City legend is not expected to don a cloak and lycra costume, McCall is considering a quick change into his usual outfit for kick-off.

Cup final protocol dictates that managers lead out their sides in a suit and tie – and anyone who has seen McCall gyrating along the touchline at Valley Parade will know that is definitely not his style.

“I’ll probably have my t-shirt and shorts on underneath,” he laughed. “Then I can just whip off the rest before kick-off.”

There may not be a convenient phone box to hand but enforced sartorial elegance would be a small price to pay on the biggest day of McCall’s managerial career.

Reaching a final – Motherwell’s first in 20 years – makes up for all those cup disappointments in the early rounds during his Bantams reign.

“We always used to get the most difficult draw possible. Donny away and Leeds away in the JPT and Huddersfield away in the Carling Cup.

“We got a home draw in the FA Cup against Tranmere, another team from the division above. And yet the hardest one we got was MK Dons away and we went and won there.

“This is my biggest achievement without a doubt and it means so much to the club and the people here because they haven’t reached a final for so long.

“I went into the ground on the last Bank Holiday Monday after we’d got beaten heavily at home by Rangers. There were still queues for tickets that went on for miles.

“You saw all the different ages and families there and all the smiling faces and it really made me think how much it means. It’s going to be such a special occasion.”

Nobody outside Motherwell expected them to get this far.

McCall’s second game in charge was an away tie at Dundee, who were charging up the First Division. The smart money was on the upset.

He recalled: “Dundee were absolutely flying at the time. They’d won six on the bounce without conceding a goal.

“It was live on Sky and every press guy was there waiting for Motherwell to fall flat on their faces.

“But they went home disappointed. The lads put in a really solid performance and it went on from there.

“We were drawn at Dundee United, the cup holders, got the replay and absolutely battered them at home. And St Johnstone in the semis was over by half-time.

“It was a tough route but the biggest thing was avoiding Celtic. Now we’re ready for them.”

There will be another City connection on the field where Steve Jones, still wearing the lime green boots from his Valley Parade loan stint, will hope to find some joy against Celtic’s much-admired Honduras defender Emilio Izaguirre.

But McCall has poured cold water on gathering rumours that James Hanson could soon be heading north to join him.

Wayne Jacobs watched City on McCall’s behalf against Burton and Accrington but his former Valley Parade boss insists they were scouting opposition players only.

“The big James story is miles off the mark,” said McCall. “I’m not in for him because we haven’t got any money.”

McCall has been bombarded with good-luck messages from City fans and his former players – along with plenty of requests for tickets.

“I’ve suddenly got more friends than I’ve ever known. Thorney (Peter Thorne) has been on the phone every week. I think he can only make it up for the cup final because he holidays that much!

“But there have been so many messages from Bradford and people sending cards and stuff to the club.”

Celtic cruised to a 4-0 win in the dress rehearsal last Sunday but don’t read too much into that. Half a dozen of McCall’s regulars were missing as Motherwell kept their powder dry for Hampden.

McCall’s Well have already beaten Celtic in February. That 2-0 win was Motherwell’s first against them at home since 2005 – and the first time Celtic had not scored at Fir Park in 15 years.

McCall said: “To beat one of the Old Firm is always massive but to beat them in the final and win the trophy would be beyond anything.

“I’ve told the lads to treat it as a day out but they are in the final on merit. We competed well against Rangers in the CIS semi-finals as well so we deserve to be there.

“And just imagine what it will be like if we win. One win over the Old Firm is special, to do it twice would be out of this world.”

A real super-human effort is required.