Craig Gordon relishing Scotland No.1 battle

Craig Gordon relishing Scotland No.1 battle

Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon has insisted he is relishing the upcoming Old Firm battle with Rangers ace Allan McGregor for Scotland’s No.1 spot.

Allan McGregor returned to Scottish football this summer with Rangers, ending his five year stay in English football with Hull City, as well as a loan spell in Cardiff.

Gordon believes his compatriot’s return to the SPL will make him more of a danger to his Scotland No.1 position, but says he is relishing the competition – which can only be a good thing for the nation.

“The competition is brilliant. That keeps me driven. You use any bit of motivation you can get,” said Gordon.

“Allan signing for Rangers puts him in the public eye a bit more. In the bottom half of the English Championship, nothing much really gets reported up here. Whether he had a good or bad game, nobody would really notice. Up here, there will be more scrutiny, either good or bad. People will look at him.

“We will wait and see, but it definitely will be a talking point as we are both in the same league now.

“I don’t think about the other guys all the time, but to be competing with them is motivation. I want to be the best I can be and if there is a moment when it gets tough, then that keeps you going. There are a lot of good keepers at Celtic and with Scotland and that pushes everyone on.”

The 35-year-old Hoops veteran insisted that there would be no bad blood between himself and his competition though, saying: “People will be able to compare us, but it won’t change our relationship at all. We will be absolutely fine.

“The Goalies Union does exist. I would never wish a player in that position to do anything wrong or have a bad game.

“I just want to be the best I can and prove I am worth the shirt.”
[Quotes via Daily Record]