Source: Team_Talk
Spanish sunshine lifts McManus
Gordon Strachan took advantage of the free weekend offered by the Homecoming Scottish Cup semi-finals to take his players to La Manga last week.[LNB]McManus has benefited from the break after being hit by a recurring ankle injury and could make a comeback as the SPL leaders face Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday.[LNB]"It certainly wasn't a holiday," the Scotland defender said.[LNB]"We were out working every day and it was just a normal week in that respect, so it was really good.[LNB]"Normally, we just wouldn't get the chance to do something like this.[LNB]"That's the first time I have been away in the middle of a season since I joined the first team and it's been brilliant.[LNB]"The facilities at La Manga were absolutely superb, the pitches were immaculate and the gaffer was able to do a lot of work and work some of the lads really hard. It was just what we needed."[LNB]McManus missed Celtic's 2-0 win over Aberdeen 10 days ago after being hauled off at half-time against Hearts the previous weekend as he struggled with the same ankle injury that had kept him out of Scotland's defeat by Holland last month.[LNB]But the 26-year-old was able to take part in some light training in Spain and will bid to step up his fitness at Lennoxtown this week.[LNB]"Personally, I was able to enjoy some rest and rehab," he said.[LNB]"I didn't do any heavy training, but was going on walks and jogs and was in the gym every day.[LNB]"It was basically what I would have been doing here, but in a much better climate.[LNB]"Time will tell how great a benefit it has been, but I think that the lads have come back from this fresher and stronger."[LNB]Celtic hold a one-point advantage over Rangers going into the post-split fixtures and McManus believes the team are in good shape.[LNB]"We're all looking forward to it," McManus told tomorrow's Celtic View.[LNB]"We have a five-game league to win the title now and we are lucky in that we are a point ahead of our nearest rivals.[LNB]"We are going into this match full of confidence and ready for it.[LNB]"Aberdeen have done really well this season, they had a few players missing in the recent game at Celtic Park, so it will be a totally different game this Saturday.[LNB]"There is a league title at stake and it doesn't get any bigger in your career than winning this.[LNB]"From the start of the season we have given our all and I can guarantee that in this final push we will be giving 100% in everything we do, because we want to win as many things as we possibly can as a group."[LNB][LNB]
