CRAIG GORDON is smiling as he recalls an incident with Darren Fletcher ahead of the recent Scotland friendly against Northern Ireland.

"We were walking out together for the game at Hampden, with him leading the team out and me behind him," he says. "I tapped him on the shoulder and said "we've not done this for a while!" It was like going back to the old days."

Gordon has been doing an awful lot of reacquainting himself with aspects of his past over the last 12 months or so, parts of his life that he wondered if he would ever experience again following two years on the sidelines nursing a serious knee injury. It is the sort of lengthy lay-off that puts doubts in the minds of even those with the strongest of wills.

Would he play at all again? Could the injury return? Would the new manager want him? Would he become an established first-choice presence again? Would he recapture previous form and be a success? All these issues raced through Gordon's mind from the point of the latter stages of his rehabilitation to signing a contract with Celtic last summer. The easier option would have been to sign for a lesser club and be guaranteed regular first-team football but Gordon, now 32 years old, wanted to aim for the top, signing instead for the Scottish champions. It was a bold move given Fraser Forster, the then Celtic number one, was still at the club, and that Ronny Deila, the new manager recently recruited from Stromsgodset in Norway, did not really know anything about him.

Gordon never comes across as someone wracked with insecurities but he concedes he did not approach this new challenge at Celtic with the air of a carefree man.

"There were a lot of doubts whether I had done the right thing coming here," he admits. "Fraser Forster was still here and I didn't know if it was the right decision to come in at this level and fight for a first-team spot, or whether I should have dropped down a level or two, got first-team games and tried to work my way back that way. Anything could have happened from that point. I could be sitting here at the end of the season having not played a game and not achieved anything. And then I would have been kicking myself for not going and getting games under my belt. I was ambitious enough, though, and wanted to go in as high as I could. I wanted to prove I could still play at this level and thankfully I've been able to do that."

Things moved quickly in his favour. Forster moved back to England, signing for Southampton for around £10m, and Deila showed he had sufficient faith in Gordon, and the word of Stevie Woods, the club's goalkeeping coach, to allow the former Hearts player to fill the void.

From there, there has been little looking back. Gordon has played almost every week without even the merest twinge in his knee, helping Celtic conclude a Premiership and League Cup domestic double. On the personal front there have been accolades too, the goalkeeper chosen as the player of the year as voted for by the Scottish Football Writers Association.

"I didn't really set myself a minimum target," he adds. ""I wanted to play some games but I didn't have an exact figure. But if Fraser had stayed here maybe I would have just played in the cup matches or before or after a European game if they were resting players. I really didn't know. I didn't know the manager coming in, his philosophy or his thinking. So it was a step into the unknown. I just wanted to back myself as I had done that throughout my rehab to get back. I was confident I could get back to those levels but I didn't have an awful lot to back that up. I had to go out and prove it. Thankfully I managed to do that."

Gordon is at an age where most professionals can see the finishing line in their careers, many calling it a day before they hit 35. Goalkeepers are a unique breed, however, with many continuing on into their 40s and beyond. Having sat out two years with an injury, Gordon hopes he could yet get that time back by extending his playing days for as long as possible.

"I hope I can play for as long as I can," he adds. "I've seen what it's like not playing. Although it was nice spending time at home with my two young girls, I want to play football for as long as I can. You're a long time retired and I got a little glimpse of that during my time out. I know how lucky I am to be able to keep playing.

"I'd like to try keep playing until I'm 40. If my body holds up to it I'll try to play as long as I can. Brad Friedel has just announced his retirement aged 43 so that gives me another 10 and a half years! I could have a while yet. I don't see me moving on from Celtic, certainly not at the moment. I'm very happy here and the manager has been great with me. We've got a really good relationship and I work very well with Stevie Woods as well. I'm looking forward to next season and giving the Champions League a go."