Caldwell plays through pain

Celtic defender Gary Caldwell is playing through the pain barrier in a determined bid to keep hold of his first team place.

The former Hibernian favourite is currently keeping Bobo Balde out of Celtic's side but it is at a cost as he is nursing a niggling heel injury.

Caldwell played in Celtic's defeat of Rangers on Saturday with the aid of an injection the week before, but he is still troubled by the knock.

However, with the experienced Balde pressing for a return after recovering from stomach surgery, Caldwell is refusing to take time out.

"I got an injection last Saturday and I didn't train all week," said Caldwell. "It's still not 100 percent but it's better. Hopefully it will go away.

"It's not playing on my mind. I think wee niggles, bumps and bruises are something all footballers have to put up with during the season.

"Hopefully, we have found the cure and are going to get rid of it in the near future.

"I don't ever want to take a break but I had to last week because of the injection. I want to keep playing.

"When you have a player of Bobo's calibre sitting on the bench, you have to play well because you know you will be out the team if you don't do the business.

"So I've had one injection and that should be it. You should really rest it for the week but I told the specialist I wasn't staying out that long.

"It's pretty sore but hopefully I can get back to training week-in, week-out."