Rangers manager Walter Smith admits he cannot even begin to comprehend the turmoil Phil O'Donnell's family and Motherwell are going through.Wednesday's Old Firm derby was postponed by the Scottish Premier League after both Celtic and Rangers agreed it should not go ahead after the death of the popular former Hoops midfielder, who collapsed during Motherwell's 5-3 win over Dundee United on Saturday.
Smith revealed his own players were still shocked by the events of the weekend and could only imagine what those close to the 35-year-old are going through.
He said: "It is a terrible time, it's bad enough even for those of us who did not have personal contact with the boy.
"In football you don't imagine it. A fit young man goes out to play his third game in seven days and this happens, you would never consider it.
"He is so young and for the rest of his family, it is tragic.
"It won't be easy for anybody to overcome in the next few days, occasions like these put football well into the background."
Smith revealed Barry Ferguson had been hit hardest by the news. The Rangers captain also grew up in Hamilton and knew O'Donnell and his family.
"All the boys are shocked. Barry Ferguson is friendly with both Phil and his family and is the one in our team who knew him best," he added.
"Obviously, like everyone else, he is feeling the effect of what happened."
Smith, meanwhile, has challenged Chris Burke to show he deserves a lengthy run in the first team after the winger started the last two matches following a lengthy spell out of favour on the sidelines.
He said: "He has sat out most of the season so far but hopefully when given an opportunity he will make the most of it, which he has so far.
"He was a player we were more aware of than a number of the newer ones when we came to the club.
"You can see from the level of fitness he has that he has looked after himself, it's a great credit to him that he has done that. He has worked very hard to get back in and has done very well when he has played."
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