Gordon glad to get chance between posts for Celtic

CELTIC goalkeeper Craig Gordon is aiming to build on the 45 minutes he played in last weekend's friendly against Dynamo Dresden as speculation mounts over the future of first-choice keeper Fraser Forster.

Serious injuries had prevented the former Sunderland stopper Gordon from playing football, with his last appearance for the Black Cats occurring in Apri, 2012.

But the 31-year-old eventually earned another shot at the big-time with the Scottish champions this summer.

Ronny Deila's first signing as Celtic manager, Gordon joined the club on their pre-season tour of Austria, and after several weeks of training, he was given his first chance to impress in the clash against the German outfit.

Forster is the subject of interest from English Premier League side Southampton, and if they stump up over £10m for the England internatioal, Gordon's stock will rise further in the Celtic ranks.

Replaced at the break by Lukasz Zaluska, the new Bhoy could reflect with satisfaction on his Celtic debut.

"It was good to get back playing," he said. "From a personal point of view, it's been a long time out, so it was good to get out there and to play for 45 minutes and get a clean sheet in the first half. I have to be happy with that. "I knew coming in that there would be two teams playing each half and that I would be playing in the first half so it was good to get myself ready for that. It's a good step in the right direction and hopefully before too long I will be ready for more."

Celtic travel to Poland next Wednesday for their Champions League third qualifying round first leg clash with Legia Warsaw, who beat St Patrick's Athletic on Wednesday to progress.