Bain relishes the pain game at Parkhead

WHATEVER the mental pain Celtic collectively endured after exiting the Champions League to Cluj in mid-August, it was nothing compared with the physical discomfort Scott Bain had to endure.

‘I dislocated my thumb during the second half,’ the Parkhead goalkeeper explained. ‘I made a save and my thumb hit the ground so I popped it back in — I could feel it in my glove that it was facing the other way.

‘We were all disappointed at the end and my thumb wasn’t too bad but the next morning it was really sore.

‘It was weird that I didn’t feel it at the time but that was probably down to the adrenaline flowing and I think that popping it back in straight away probably helped.

‘I didn’t need surgery or anything. I just needed to rest. It’s taken longer than expected to recover from it, though.’

Out of sight but not out of the minds of the club’s hierarchy, Bain’s sterling contribution in a Celtic jersey up until that point was recognised with the offer of a four-year contract which was inked this week.

If Fraser Forster’s arrival in the interim represents a formidable challenge for both Bain (above) and Craig Gordon, a fresh long-term deal is a timely vote of confidence.

‘It’s something we’ve spoken about for a wee while but circumstances came up to prevent it getting done,’ he continued.

‘You need to be prepared for the lows in football because there will always be setbacks and injuries.

‘You just need to be up for the fightback and the new deal provides good security for my future.’

Forster’s form since arriving on loan from Southampton has belied the fact he played only one match in 20 months on the south coast.

Quite how he managed to keep out Danilo Cataldi’s fizzing volley against Lazio nine days ago to preserve three points, we shall probably never know.

‘It didn’t surprise me what Fraser did because I work with him every day,’ said Bain.

‘It was coming across the goal but he was strong as an ox — it was a fantastic save and a fantastic result.

‘As a keeper, it’s good when you can contribute to a result with a late save.’ Dislodging Forster from the side on that kind of form is the tallest of orders. But just as Bain discovered to his own cost against the Romanians, football is a game with the most fickle fates.

Approaching full fitness again, he has to approach each game as the day on which the door opens again. ‘We all want to play games,’ said the former Dundee man.

‘There is no better feeling than playing and winning trophies.

‘You can’t really replicate it but I am just 27 now.

‘It gives me time to plan ahead and become better every year.

‘You look at people like Craig, playing on until 37, and that gives me hope that I can be here for as long as possible.

‘The staff here are fantastic at pushing players on and taking your game to the next level, so hopefully I can do that.’