Final comes quickly for Celtic

Final comes quickly for Celtic

Chris Sutton will play through the pain barrier

Celtic go into Sunday's CIS Insurance Cup final against Rangers with manager Martin O'Neill confessing that his players have had no time to think about it.

A packed fixture list saw Liverpool at Celtic Park on Thursday night for the first leg of the Uefa Cup quarter final tie, which ended 1-1.

"It's a strange feeling because it's the first time ever I have been involved in a cup final that we haven't had a week to prepare for," admitted O'Neill.

"We've had no time to think about the cup final. Our minds are on it now, but we've had no time to prepare physically, mentally and tactically because of the importance of the game in midweek.

"But it's the first trophy of the season and you want to win it.

"Defeat won't be okay and there will be disappointment there that might take some time to go away.

McLeish wants Rangers response

"By Saturday we should have our minds totally fixed on this cup final and I'm sure because it's Rangers the players can turn their attention to that game."

The Old Firm clubs met last weekend on league duty with Celtic coming out on top 1-0 thanks to a John Hartson strike.

Didier Agathe was injured in that game and Alan Thompson limped out of the Liverpool clash with a calf strain.

Agathe's hamstring problem will see him out of action for up to a month, while Thompson has not yet been ruled out of Sunday's Hampden Park meeting.

Chris Sutton has been suffering with a leg injury and O'Neill revealed the big striker will play on through the pain barrier.

"Chris will just have to grin and bare it for the next couple of weeks," said O'Neill.

If Thompson is ruled unfit, Steve Guppy is likely to start wide on the left against Rangers.

Jamie Smith replaced Agathe on the right flank against Liverpool, but O'Neill may be tempted to bring in either Momo Sylla or Jackie McNamara after the youngster's up and down midweek performance.

Rangers are the CIS Cup holders, having beaten Ayr United in last year's final.