McManus - Depth is the key

Celtic skipper hails depth of Hoops' squad

Last updated: 21st November 2008

McManus - Depth is the key

McManus: Hailed depth

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Stephen McManus believes Celtic's 10-game winning run in the league is down to the depth of the champions' squad this term.

The Hoops have not dropped a point in the SPL since a 4-2 defeat by title rivals Rangers at Celtic Park at the end of August.

This run is even more impressive given Gordon Strachan's squad has suffered numerous injuries in recent weeks.

The Hoops can now go seven points clear at the top if they beat St Mirren at Love Street in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off.

Celtic skipper McManus said: "At the start of the run I would have said that it could have happened, looking at the squad that we've got.

"If we had three or four players injured in previous years then they would be badly missed.

"But it just shows you how strong the squad is that it doesn't matter who you are, you are not going to be missed because there is a good player coming in.

Valuable thing

"That is a valuable thing to have in a squad.

"But I couldn't have told you that we had won 10 games in a row to be perfectly honest.

"You just go in to every game to win it."

McManus played for Scotland in the friendly defeat to Argentina on Wednesday night.

He hopes Celtic will see more of the ball against St Mirren, saying: "You try and pick up something from every game you play in and first and foremost I certainly learned on Wednesday night that it's a lot easier when you have the ball.

"When you play with Scotland, you are not in possession of the ball as often as you are when you play at club level with Celtic.

"Darren Fletcher of Manchester United will be the same, they are always in possession of the ball and the Rangers lads will be the same.

"So it's different kind of football but you have to meet all these challenges head on."