Mjallby prepared to play through the pain

Celtic defender Johan Mjallby insists he will play through the pain barrier to make this week’s Champions League qualifier against MTK Hungaria.

The big Swede has suffered an injury in the same knee which kept him sidelined for three months last season.

Mjallby managed to come through Saturday’s goalless draw at Dunfermline despite signalling to the bench that he was experiencing discomfort.

Now he is prepared to ignore his own suffering again if it means aiding Celtic’s chances in Europe – but not if it puts their Champions League chances in jeopardy.

He said: “I got a sharp pain in my knee in the first half but pain in itself isn’t something to be afraid of – the trouble comes when I can’t give 100% for the team.

“What concerns me is that it’s the same knee I had trouble with last year.

“There’s no time right now to think of scans or anything. We have a big, big game on Wednesday in Budapest and all you can do just now is work with the medical team.

“I was going to come off at Dunfermline but decided to give it a little while and I got through it in the end. I just hope it’s nothing serious.”