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.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.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.He said: "I think Mick (McManus) is an inspiration. He's only a young captain and I think he has done remarkably well."At times he has tried to be too brave, similar to myself when I played."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."Sometimes it's a bit stupid rather than brave and we need to be told not to play."Billy McNeill was my manager when I was at Celtic and he pulled me out at times."I played when I shouldn't have played and you think, 'I will run it off when the adrenaline kicks in'."We would take anything and I played with cortisone injections."You have to do it to get through certain games and the generation before mine was worse."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."The former Scotland defender believes there will be plenty of players taking to the pitch at Ibrox on Sunday far from 100% fit.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"I'm sure there will be many players at this time of the season playing with niggles and knocks."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.He said: "Realistically, who wins the game will go on and win the title."But I think Celtic can afford to draw."I want them to win but I think a draw would be enough."