Celtic skipper Stephen McManus has described Wednesday night's 1-1 draw with Croatia at Hampden Park as "one of the highlights of my career".The lead-up to George Burley's first game in charge of the national side was dominated by seven Old Firm call-offs, including the Rangers quartet of Barry Ferguson, Christian Dailly, Lee McCulloch and Allan McGregor and Celtic midfielder Barry Robson.

All five of those players are expected to be available for Saturday's crunch derby at Ibrox.

In the absence of Ferguson, McManus was handed the armband for the game, in which Niko Kranjcar's 10th-minute opener was cancelled out by Kenny Miller on the half-hour mark.

McManus, 25, said: "I would have missed out on a big opportunity for myself so I am pleased to have played in it.

"It was one of the highlights of my career.

"It was a good game to play in and I think a draw was probably a fair result.

"We had a few chances and could maybe have sneaked it but they are a very good side.

"It was very competitive game but those are the best games to play in, both sides got into each other which is the best way to play."

Croatia skipper Nico Kovac relished his battle with Scotland midfielder Scott Brown which was a feature of a feisty encounter.

The Red Bull Salzburg player was booked for a nasty challenge on the Celtic midfielder seconds before the break which resulted in Brown receiving treatment as the players went down the tunnel.

Kovac looked to be exacting retribution for Brown's foul on team-mate Mladen Petric two minutes earlier which earned the former Hibernian player a yellow card.

The Croatian midfielder claimed his foul on Brown was accidental and reckoned that the former Hibernian player - who was eventually substituted for Gary Teale after the hour mark - will be fit for the Old Firm derby.

He said: "I was a bit unlucky at the booking. I wanted to go around him but I ended up hitting him with my knee.

"I gave him my shirt after the game and I apologised and so it's forgotten - and I think he will play on Saturday.

"Neither side had many chances to win the match.

"In the first half we were not so direct and we didn't play as well as we could.

"But a draw was OK us."

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