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Team player Gordon willing to take a back seat at Hampden Park

Team player Gordon willing to take a back seat at Hampden Park
© Reuters
Number-one keeper set to have to sit out.

Craig Gordon would love to feature for Celtic in Sunday's Betfred Cup final against Aberdeen at Hampden Park but has backed Scott Bain to again be an able deputy.

The 35-year-old is number one at Parkhead but boss Brendan Rodgers will stick with Bain who played in the previous rounds against Partick Thistle, St Johnstone and Hearts.

Gordon, who helped the Hoops to a crucial 1-0 Europa League win at Rosenborg on Thursday night, admitted his disappointment but is taking the decision on the chin and will look to help his side in whatever way he can win a seventh successive trophy.

"I would obviously rather be playing but that is the same with every member of this squad," said the Scotland international.

"It is the manager that picks the team and I would to have been out there and played in that occasion but the manager has given Scott every round and has decided to stick by him for this one," he said.

"That's the way it goes. Sometimes managers do change for the final and sometimes they don't.

"He has obviously backed Scott to do the job and I will back the boys and do my bit to help them achieve that.

"Scott is a very good goalkeeper and it will be a new thing for him to go out and play in that game but certainly from everything I have seen he is certainly very capable of going in there and handling that and performing well.

"It wasn't a performance-based decision, it was something that was going to happen regardless and he has made that call and I will have to stick by that and do everything I can to help the lads win the trophy."

Even if he fails to see any action in the competition, the former Hearts and Sunderland keeper will still add his medal to his collection.

He said: "You do. Everyone in the matchday squad gets a medal.

"Obviously it wouldn't feel the same whether if is a winners or a runners-up medal, obviously we hope it is a winners.

"It feels slightly different having not played a minute but it is a team game and I am part of this team and hopefully I will contribute behind the scenes or in the dressing room so I am doing my bit to support the team but yes, it still counts.

"I will be just as happy of the team goes up to lift the club having not played."

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Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain in action during his side's Scottish Premiership clash with Old Firm rivals Rangers on March 11, 2018
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