Mowbray: No guarantees for McDonald

29 January 2010 16:42
Reports on Friday claimed the club have rejected a £3.5million bid from Middlesbrough for McDonald, who is also said to be interesting West Ham.[LNB]The Australia international is back in training after a hernia operation but the Hoops boss hinted that talks about the striker's future had reached an impasse.[LNB]"I won't sit here and deny there have been conversations with Scott and they have been interesting chats but at the moment there is nothing to say either way," Mowbray said.[LNB]"Scott is at Lennoxtown (Celtic's training ground) working very hard to get fit for Tuesday but we will wait and see.[LNB]"Scott is looking for assurances, he wants to play and be on that field every minute of every game scoring goals.[LNB]"He does understand that I have a squad of players but he wants to play.[LNB]"I can't assure him he will be on the field for 90 minutes of every game, because I've got respect for the other players and that's why you have a squad.[LNB]"He is obviously a talented boy who has scored goals for the club over the piece but no player gets guarantees that he will play 90 minutes of every game.[LNB]"Would I like to keep Scott McDonald? Yes. I want as many good players as possible for me.[LNB]"Would he like to stay? Yes, I think he would because it's a great club with great supporters, a great history and he has scored goals.[LNB]"But there are three, four, five little pieces that make up the whole pie and some of them are pretty big in Scott's mind and important in what might happen."[LNB]The turnaround at Celtic continued on Friday as Stephen McManus completed his loan move to Middlesbrough while left-back Danny Fox signed for Burnley.[LNB]Mowbray rejected outright speculation that he is interested in Hearts left-back Lee Wallace but was less strident about claims Celtic were in for Real Mallorca defender Ivan Ramis.[LNB]However, he is confident new faces will arrive at Parkhead before the transfer window closes.[LNB]He said: "There is a little bit of business getting done and hopefully there is a little bit more in the next few days."[LNB]Celtic go into Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Hamilton at New Douglas Park 10 points behind Old Firm rivals Rangers at the top of the table.[LNB]Mowbray tried to remain philosophical about the criticism which intensified following the 2-1 defeat by Hibernian at Parkhead on Wednesday night.[LNB]"I don't get annoyed," he said.[LNB]"I don't think the criticism will ever die down.[LNB]"As soon as you draw a match there is criticism. I understand the agendas of having to create a divide in this city, to make sure that there is something to write about.[LNB]"There needs to be some divide somewhere, there needs to be an unhappy footballer or something not quite right.[LNB]"All I am doing is trying to build a team, to put the foundations down for longevity of success."[LNB]The former Hibs and West Brom boss reiterated his belief that Celtic can close the gap over the Ibrox men.[LNB]"Why not?" he said.[LNB]"There are enough games and we will be fighting for every point available.[LNB]"We've got to play Rangers twice and we have a game in hand.[LNB]"Potentially there is a point between us. Are you saying one of us isn't going to drop a point along the line?[LNB]"The league is there to be played for and while you can contest it, you've got to believe that you can win football matches.[LNB]"Hopefully we will come out of the transfer window with a team that will win game after game."[LNB]On McManus's loan move, Mowbray said: "My conversation with Stephen this morning was about him getting some football.[LNB]"He wants to get into the Middlesbrough side and if he comes back, he will come back a confident guy ready to play Champions League football.[LNB]"If he likes it and Middlesbrough like him and there's a deal to be done, then it's a time to talk about (a permanent transfer) then."[LNB][LNB] Hamilton v Celtic. Click here to bet.  

Source: Team_Talk