Strachan stubborn over January plans
by Owen Evans, 30 November 2007
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan is adamant a recent defensive injury crisis will not affect his transfer plans for the new year.
Left-back Lee Naylor and centre-back John Kennedy were stretchered off in The Bhoys' midweek Champions League triumph against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Naylor is expected to be out for around three weeks with a calf strain, while Kennedy's knee injury will rule him out for considerably longer.
"We've still got the same targets, they will not change, positions will not change," he said.
"We knew this could have happened. There are no recognised full-backs now but we just need to get on with it."
The injury crisis could lead to a start for 19-year-old reserve full back Paul Caddis, although Strachan is all too aware of the consequences of throwing inexperienced players into first team action too early.
"As a manager, I know myself, because I did it before, you can put a boy in too early and that can have a real adverse effect on his career," he said.
"So I have to make sure when they do come into the side, we think there's a great chance it will be a positive effect on him rather than a negative.
"When a young man is coming in you want to give him as much chance as possible to enjoy his game and be positive and he can go from there.
"Sometimes when you put them in too early it can be a negative experience and it can be harmful for the player."