CRAIG GORDON believes this week??s dead rubber Europa League tie away to Dinamo Zagreb presents the ideal opportunity to rest some of Celtic??s weary players and felt he could possibly gain more by staying at home.
CRAIG GORDON believes this week??s dead rubber Europa League tie away to Dinamo Zagreb presents the ideal opportunity to rest some of Celtic??s weary players and felt he could possibly gain more by staying at home.
Gordon, who kept another clean sheet in Saturday??s narrow victory over Motherwell at Fir Park, has been in sparkling form since making a return to competitive football following a two-year absence, but with little at stake in Croatia on Thursday night - with Celtic having already qualified for the last 32 of the competition ?? the Scotland goalkeeper is eyeing up the benefits of a full week??s uninterrupted training following Celtic??s recent heavy schedule as they pursue honours on four fronts.
??Some players will want to continue playing while others will feel they need a rest,?? said Gordon. ??It??s up to the manager. He??ll assess the squad in the next few days and make the right decisions.
??I am happy to play if selected. But if I am not involved it gives me a good opportunity to have a week??s training where I can concentrate on building up my knee and maybe training a little bit harder than I would do if I had a game.
??There are positives in that for me as well but if I am playing the game I will go about it exactly the same way I have in all the midweek games.
??I think [as a team] we are doing alright. We have coped with the hectic schedule pretty well. We did a lot of the running against Motherwell and created a lot of chances.
??When you are at a club like Celtic you need to deal with playing a lot of games. As players that??s what you want, you??d rather that than training all week.
??The fitness is important. The manager likes us to press high up the pitch and he picks players who are capable of doing it. Games improve fitness levels as well. If you are playing three games a week you are going to be fit.??
Gordon??s debut for Celtic in August was his first game since he featured for Sunderland in a 2-2 draw with Bolton Wanderers in April 2012. He is happy with how his return to competitive action has gone so far but revealed he is still easing his way back in.
??I??ve been feeling good and training well,?? he added. ??I have been looking after myself and having the odd day off training but that??s something I have to do.
??If that keeps me on the pitch and playing games then it??s something I have to do. I feel pretty good right now. I always strive for better but I am quite happy with where I am. I don??t want to rest on my laurels, though. I want to improve but it??s been going well so far this season.??
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