THE MENTOR
‘At Celtic I played with some guys who would not give youngsters the time of day, but I want to help kids like Ben Hall at Motherwell’
STEPHEN McMANUS will never forget the influence of those illustrious talents who offered advice and encouragement to help him grow into a first-team player for Celtic.
He can also recall the few, not that he will name and shame, who barely bothered to register his presence.
When it became the centreback’s time to turn mentor, there was never any doubt about which approach he would adopt. And if the progress of Ben Hall is anything to go by, the wisdom McManus has amassed is not going to waste.
The 33-year-old would modestly reject credit for Hall’s impressive emergence alongside him at the heart of the Motherwell defence, insisting that is down to the teenager himself.
Not 19 until later this month, the boy from Northern Ireland has won all three of the games he has started to date — and scored his first goal in the midweek 2-0 victory over St Johnstone. Yet manager Mark McGhee places value on the guidance McManus can offer his protege. It makes it 10 times easier to blood a young talent when there is wise counsel within earshot once he crosses the white lines.
Attitude is no less vital. As they aim to block out Hamilton in today’s Lanarkshire derby, McManus firmly believes Hall is made of the right stuff.
‘Ben has been terrific,’ he said. ‘He’s taken to it straight away. He’s a really good kid.
‘A lot of young players play two or three games and think they’ve made it. Ben’s the opposite. He barely says a word in the dressing room, he has got a lovely manner about him but a real steely determination.
‘He’s only going to get better playing each week in a settled environment. All credit to him because he works hard. From my point of view, being experienced is pointless if you’re not going to pass that experience on.
‘I’ve been that young kid. At Celtic, I played with some who wouldn’t give the young players the time of day.
‘The majority were terrific with me. It wasn’t just centre-halves. Paul Lambert was great with me, Neil Lennon, Henrik Larsson. Then there was Bobo Balde, Joos Valgaeren, Johan Mjallby — proper players. You just want to emulate these guys.
‘I’ve been that young centre-half making his way in the game and you need all the help you can get.
‘I always wanted to be the type of player who could help in any way. Everyone makes mistakes and I am sure Ben will as well. But there’s not too much pressure of expectation put on his shoulders. He’s just 18 and still a kid but he’s got a lot going for him.’
Further hope for the future comes from Motherwell’s collective recent form under McGhee. Having taken 10 points from the last 12 available — including winning at Celtic Park — they are dragging themselves away from a repeat of last season’s relegation play-off stress.
Success over Hamilton would be a further indication of progress.
Last term, Motherwell lost three of their four Premiership meetings with Accies, including a 5-0 defeat at New Douglas Park on New Year’s Day and a 4-0 beating at home. A 4-0 victory of their own in March went some way towards redressing the balance.
‘They’re always hard games against Hamilton but it helps going in confident,’ said McManus.
‘The (5-0) defeat at New Douglas Park was a real low. The win against them was one of the highs. It just shows what can happen in derby matches.
‘We are certainly in a better place than we were last New Year’s Day.
‘We’ve been doing OK and they’ve hit a wee sticky patch, but the form book goes out of the window in these matches.
‘There are some good young kids at Hamilton and they have a real identity as a club. They’ve done a great job with their budget.
‘We’re just looking to maintain our professionalism and work rate, and the performances will come from having that.’
Like McGhee, McManus remains cautious about overstating Motherwell’s rise. The win over St Johnstone lifted them to within a point of the top six — but they are also only four clear of 11th-placed Kilmarnock.
‘We’re keeping an eye on the sides around us but it’s important to concentrate on ourselves and trying to keep it going,’ added the former Scotland cap.
‘You can see the organisation is a lot better. We’re working hard and getting the rewards.
‘We’ve won three in a row and are unbeaten in four, which is probably the best spell we’ve had this season.’