Strachan says 'human' Boruc did not break any club rules

Published on Friday 21 November 2008 21:09

CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan has made light of the most recent controversy to surround goalkeeper Artur Boruc.

The Poland international returned to his homeland last week to recuperate from a knee injury, where he was photographed in the company of friends, drinking and smoking cigars.

The former Legia Warsaw keeper, 28, was left out of his country's squad for their opening World Cup qualifiers after breaching disciplinary rules following a friendly match with Ukraine in August.

And last month he was fined 500 and given a severe reprimand over gestures he made to Rangers fans during the last Old Firm derby at Celtic Park.

However, asked by one reporter at the club's weekly press conference yesterday what he made of the way Boruc spent his time off, Strachan replied: "It was his weekend off. He can do what he wants.

"Do you spend time with your girlfriend? Do you go to the cinema with her? Would you like her to kiss you now and then? That's what Artur has done.

"I still go to the cinema with my wife. I still kiss her. She doesn't like it, but there you go. It's only human nature.

"He never broke any rules and never broke any guidelines. He's (back] training so I don't have a problem with it.

"It might be nice if he did have a beer now and then – it might just loosen him up a wee bit."

Boruc is back in contention for today's lunchtime Clydesdale Bank Premier League trip to St Mirren, but Strachan refused to confirm whether he would take over from deputy Mark Brown.

However, the Celtic manager was at pains to stress the game against the Paisley side takes precedence over next week's Champions League clash with Aalborg in Denmark.

Despite their recent injury problems, the Celtic Park club have won their last ten SPL games and can stretch their lead over Rangers at the top of the table to seven points if they win their lunchtime clash against St Mirren.

However, Celtic's European ambitions are more fraught, the Glasgow giants having to win their first Champions League game away from home in Denmark if they are to continue their involvement in Europe after Christmas.

The Celtic manager, though, is clear as to where his priorities lie. Responding to the specific suggestion that striker Georgios Samaras, who has recently returned to fitness following a knee injury, looked to use the match against St Mirren to hone his sharpness ahead of the Aalborg game, Strachan said: "I'm not having that nonsense. The SPL is our main target.

"They always make it tough for us. We once scored five there but the rest of the games have been close.

"I will just pick a team that I think will be the best for St Mirren.

"We've had to deal with injuries for two months.

"So there have been things there to test us and the players can take great pride in how they have dealt with so many obstacles."

Mason sure Saints will rally

GARY Mason insists goals will come for St Mirren if they continue to play the right way. Saints have scored just two Clydesdale Bank Premier League goals at Love Street this season ahead of today's lunchtime visit of Celtic.

When Franco Miranda struck in the latter stages of last weekend's 2-1 defeat at Rangers, it ended a goal drought of more than eight hours of football. The irony is St Mirren have been more forward-thinking in their approach this season and midfielder Mason believes that ethos will soon pay off.

"Sometimes, the longer it goes on, the harder it can sometimes get," he said. "But we have got that goal and we are not panicking anyway. We are creating enough opportunities and it won't be long before they start going in the net. We are getting a lot of balls in the box, we just need that wee bit of joy.

"I think we are taking the game to teams. You could see that in the second half against Rangers.

"We started attacking them a lot. They obviously still had opportunities but we have been doing that in a lot of games and passing the ball well."

St Mirren follow Kilmarnock and Motherwell in facing an Old Firm double header and Mason, who hopes to brush off a calf injury, admits the schedule is testing.

Saints have already pulled off a shock triumph over Rangers this season with Stephen McGinn's wonderful long-range winner one of their two home goals.