Celtic v Motherwell: McCall refuses to risk key players

Published on Friday 13 May 2011 18:47

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall insists he will deploy a "good sprinkling" of first-team players against Celtic six days before their Scottish Cup final rematch.

But McCall will take no risks with anyone carrying the slightest of knocks and has made no secret of the fact he will look after his own club's interests despite the importance of the Celtic Park clash to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title race.

Goalkeeper Darren Randolph, left-back Stevie Hammell and midfielder Keith Lasley were all affected by minor strains during the midweek draw against Kilmarnock and other experienced players are likely to be rested against Celtic, who will win the SPL if they take more points than Rangers earn at Kilmarnock.

"We've had a couple of niggles in training over the last 24 hours so we'll just decide when we get there," McCall said.

"It's not an ideal situation but if there is any doubt we won't play them. Everyone wants to be involved in the cup final so if anyone is struggling, we know about it now. We've only got so many in the squad we can rest. There will be a good sprinkling of first-team players playing, that's for sure. It's not the case that we'll be playing the young under-19s.

"There will be six, seven, eight lads who we would classify as regulars playing, so we will give it a go."

Motherwell will get into Europe regardless of the cup final result if Celtic win the league, but Celtic's defeat at Inverness, which put the title in Rangers' hands, has taken the pressure off McCall over his team selection.

There is no motivation for McCall to risk any key players given the draw against Kilmarnock ended hopes of a fifth-place finish and the extra 80,000 that brings. But McCall insists there will be no shortage of commitment from the players he does put out.

"We'll approach it like any game, we'll put on a committed display and look to win the game," he said. "We're under no illusions how difficult it will be. At any time going to Parkhead will be a difficult game, but everyone will be up for it. They are on a good run of form, they have bounced back well after the defeat at Inverness."

McCall named a strong team against Killie but Jamie Murphy was removed from the squad to refresh him. But the 21-year-old, who yesterday collected the Clydesdale Bank young player of the month award for April, is eager to face Celtic tomorrow.

"You always want to be involved in big games and Sunday is definitely a big game," Murphy said.

"You want to go to places like Parkhead and Ibrox and win, so we're going to do everything we can to do that. We want to win for ourselves so we can show we can play well against Celtic before the final."

Murphy revealed he felt the benefit of the rest, even if he did not want it. "A few of the boys were a bit tired today and I came in and I was all right," he said. But when I was watching the game I was just really wanting to be on the park.

"The manager named the squad and I wasn't in it. It's completely up to the manager what happens. I'm sure he'll do the best for the team."