Source: Team_Talk
Take care of McManus, says Whyte
Hoops skipper McManus is a major doubt for the Old Firm derby at Ibrox on Saturday after being substituted in the last two games against Hearts with an ankle injury, and then against Aberdeen with a sore knee.[LNB]Celtic are one point ahead of the Light Blues and the omission of McManus, who has often played with injuries for the champions, could have a material effect on the outcome of what is more tense Glasgow derby than usual.[LNB]Whyte, who played 215 times for the Parkhead club between 1985 and 1992, recalls how he too had to be rescued from his own desire to play through the pain barrier.[LNB]He said: "I think Mick (McManus) is an inspiration. He's only a young captain and I think he has done remarkably well.[LNB]"At times he has tried to be too brave, similar to myself when I played.[LNB]"If the foreign players are not 100% then they don't play but Scottish players in general will try and play through the pain barrier.[LNB]"Sometimes it's a bit stupid rather than brave and we need to be told not to play.[LNB]"Billy McNeill was my manager when I was at Celtic and he pulled me out at times.[LNB]"I played when I shouldn't have played and you think, 'I will run it off when the adrenaline kicks in'.[LNB]"We would take anything and I played with cortisone injections.[LNB]"You have to do it to get through certain games and the generation before mine was worse.[LNB]"But there has to be a stage where the manager and physio get together and say 'we will need to pull him out' or you will cause more damage to the injury."[LNB]The former Scotland defender believes there will be plenty of players taking to the pitch at Ibrox on Sunday far from 100% fit.[LNB]He said: "If you have anything about you then you would want to play in this game and you would take anything, a tablet or something to ease the pain[LNB]"I'm sure there will be many players at this time of the season playing with niggles and knocks."[LNB]PFA Scotland Player of the Year Scott Brown is definitely out through suspension but Whyte believes his former club can take at least a draw which will leave them still ahead with three games remaining.[LNB]He said: "Realistically, who wins the game will go on and win the title.[LNB]"But I think Celtic can afford to draw.[LNB]"I want them to win but I think a draw would be enough."[LNB][LNB]
