Gary Caldwell believes Maurice Malpas is correct to spare Scott McDonald from the intense scrutiny of lining up against Celtic after the striker agreed to join the Parkhead club next season.

The Motherwell manager has made it clear McDonald will not be considered for selection in Saturday's Bank of Scotland Premierleague encounter, as a £650,000 deal for his end-of-season transfer was sealed last week.

Caldwell is perfectly qualified to comment on the demands of what is a relatively rare situation. Last year, he was selected by Hibernian to face Celtic during the title run-in, despite having agreed a pre-contract to join Gordon Strachan's side on a Bosman transfer.

The 24-year-old admits that was one of the hardest aspects of his awkwardly protracted farewell from Easter Road. He is happy to see McDonald avoid a similar circumstance.

"It was difficult for me in that situation, very difficult," said Caldwell, yesterday promoting a new DVD collection to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Lisbon Lions' European Cup win.

"You want to prove so many people wrong who are speculating about what you will or won't do in the game. You end up trying too hard to please everyone.

"It was tough, but Tony Mowbray chose to play me against Celtic and that was his decision as a manager. Maurice Malpas has obviously decided not to play Scott and I think that is right. It takes the pressure off Scott and everyone else.

"In my case, I was quite happy to play at the time. But looking back, I can realise it would have probably been better the other way.

"You are placed under a huge amount of scrutiny. If there is a mistake or something else that happens in the game, then people are asking: Why has he done that? What's happening there?' It's a pressure that's not needed."

There may also be a degree of self-interest in Caldwell's standpoint. After all, Motherwell's threat could be significantly blunted by the removal of their most potent threat, who has scored 16 times this season.

"I'm sure Motherwell will miss Scott on Saturday, because he has scored a lot for their team," admitted Caldwell. "He will be a great addition to our squad, because he puts himself about and works hard."

Celtic are without a win in their past four matches and their persistently misfiring strikers are carrying the bulk of blame for this jittery end to the title campaign. Caldwell, though, feels his defensive colleagues must share the burden, having conceded once in each of those games.

"We want to get back to clean sheets," said Caldwell. "We got that goal in front against Dundee United last Saturday and that should have been that. As a defender, you know that if you do your job right, then the three points will be yours."

A 13-point lead remains in place and Celtic could even be crowned this weekend if they beat Motherwell and Rangers lose to St Mirren on Sunday. Caldwell, though, will not make any special plans to tune into live coverage from Love Street. His time away from football has been dominated by caring for his son, Owen, who weighed just 2lb 14oz when born 12 weeks prematurely in February.

"I'll be at hospital to see the wee one on Sunday," said Caldwell. "He's doing well and, hopefully, should be out within two or three weeks.

I see him every day and he's getting bigger and stronger.

"However we win the league now doesn't matter. We have done things under our own steam this season by winning more games than anybody else."

Caldwell returned from a four-month injury absence to play at right-back at Tannadice. It is a role in which he is happy to continue if required, with Paul Telfer this week having left Celtic to rejoin his family in England.

"I always knew Paul was missing his family and wanted to be back down there," said Caldwell. "I didn't think he would go before the end of the season but that's his decision, and we all have to back him."