THE first name on the Celtic team-sheet tomorrow night will probably be the most interesting.
Scott Bain cannot play against his ‘parent’ club Dundee so will have to sit this one out so we’ll see if Craig Gordon is ready to return after his injury incurred at the end of January against Hibs at Celtic Park in the 1-0 win. Leigh Griffiths got the only goal that day – more on him shortly on The Celtic Star.
If Gordon does make it then the interest in the first name on the team sheet will roll over until the weekend when Celtic travel to Hamilton for their last fixture before the split.
There we’d find out whether Craig Gordon is back as first pick keeper or whether Scott Bain is back between the sticks, presumably keeping his place thereafter, for the semi-final against Rangers the next week.
If tomorrow Dorus de Vries is in goals then we can presumably surmise that Craig Gordon isn’t ready to play after his injury lay-off. There would be less speculation surrounding the number 1 for Hamilton though, with Bain more than likely to be back in the side.
Celtic have opened contract talks with Bain, whose agent seems to have done a grand job of whipping up potential interest elsewhere with the hope that his client’s bargaining position is enhanced. Given that he is out of contract with Dundee in the summer that is a tough sell. Bain though has done his talking on the park mostly.
If Dorus plays tomorrow it could be his farewell appearance for the Hoops. The Dutch veteran signed a contract extension last autumn but had interest from down south last summer. Rodgers persuaded him to stay but with the emergence of Bain, the former Dunfermline and Nottingham Forest keeper is sure to drop down the pecking order and may feel one final move in his career is worth it so that he can play for first team football before calling it a day.
All eyes on tomorrow’s first name on the team-sheet then!
