Woods keeping it in the family
NEW Scotland goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods believes working with Craig Gordon on a daily basis at Celtic will help him get the very best out of the player on international duty.
Woods has replaced Jim Stewart, the former Rangers coach, in the national set-up following the appointment of Alex McLeish as manager.
He works with Gordon, who is currently sidelined with a serious knee injury, every day at Lennoxtown and knows his game well.
The 35-year-old, who won’t be involved against Costa Rica and Hungary friendlies later this month, was first-choice keeper during the Russia 2018 campaign.
Woods is confident that knowing the 52-time capped player so well will be massively beneficial to both of them in the future.
“It will be help,” he said. “There won’t be any favouritism. It is going to be good.
“I think Craig will benefit from having a bit of familiar- ity, but hopefully I can bring a club feel to international training and benefit all the goalkeepers.”
Meanwhile, Woods, he former Clydebank, Preston North End, Motherwell and St Mirren goalkeeper, has spoken of his pride at joining the Scotland coaching staff.
“It is a massive honour,” he said. “I am really pleased to be here representing my country at national level. That is why you get into coaching in the first place.
“Alex phoned me and said he was going to be revamping things. I was his first signing in management at Motherwell. Jim Stewart was the previous goalkeeping coach. I have got enormous respect for everything he has done in his career and with Scotland.
“I played with Faddy and I worked with Peter when he first came to Celtic so I know them both very well and I know their standards are extremely high. I am looking forward to working with them both.”