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Jim Stewart describes Celtic player as ‘the odd man out’, hints he should consider his future
Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon needs to be playing regularly if he is to get back into the Scotland fold, Jim Stewart has told the .
According to the , Celtic boss Neil Lennon wants the 37-year-old – whose Parkhead contract – to remain part of his squad for next season.
The report claims that the offer on the table for Gordon is on much-reduced wages to the figure he’s been on for the past six years at Celtic.
At the same time, St Mirren are also reportedly trying to sign the Scotland international, the Buddies having just lost Vaclav Hladky on a free transfer.
The outlet claims manager Jim Goodwin has made a strong pitch to lure Gordon to Paisley, with the promise of guaranteed first-team Scottish Premiership football.
Stewart, a former Scotland coach, says the chance of getting back into Steve Clarke’s squad will drive Gordon on in adding to his 58 caps, the last of which came in October 2018.
“I know from speaking to Craig that he still has a hankering to get back playing for Scotland,” said Stewart. “He still has the desire and ambition, I’ve no doubt about that. But he knows he has to be playing regularly somewhere.
“Looking at it from the outside, it looks like he’s the odd man out at Celtic. But I know he’s happy with his own fitness, so it’s a question of what he wants to do for himself.”
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While Gordon hasn’t had much of a look-in recently at Celtic, the Hoops currently have just one senior keeper on their books – Scott Bain.
If the Bhoys can bring Fraser Forster back then it wouldn’t be too much of an issue, but in the meantime it makes sense to want to keep Gordon.
That said, given Gordon is seemingly after first-team football, that is likely to count against Celtic, and they might find it difficult if there’s a lot of competition for his services and if he’s eager to get back into the Scotland fold.