Gordon keen to show hard lesson is learned

Celtic: Deposed goalkeeper could start against Manchester City

Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon has been doing extra homework on Brendan Rodgers’ demands in an attempt to regain the starting role.

Scotland international Gordon, pictured, lost his place to Dorus de Vries, who worked with Rodgers at Swansea, for games against Aberdeen, Rangers, Barcelona and then Inverness.

But the berth still seems up for grabs after the Dutchman conceded 11 goals in those four matches before being beaten by Souleymane Coulibaly from more than 40 yards during Celtic’s 6-1 win against Kilmarnock on Saturday.

De Vries went off at half time with a chest injury and Gordon got 45 minutes to show Rodgers what he has learned during his absence.

And Gordon will continue to work hard to impress his manager, who will await news from his medical team before selecting his goalkeeper for tomorrow night’s Champions League match against Premier League leaders Manchester City at Parkhead. Gordon said: “We’ll see over the next few days. Dorus picked up the injury so the physios will be looking at that. “It would be good to get a run in the team but there’s a lot of competition. We have now got four first-team goalkeepers who are all of a really good standard so it’s going to be tough. But it’s a good challenge and one I’m definitely up for.

“I have been training very hard over the last few weeks to try to make sure I’m in the manager’s plans and try to get a run in the team, and do that.

“I spoke to him once when he told me he was going to put Dorus in the team. I have not spoken to him since, but I have tried to work and also do my homework on what he likes his goalkeepers to do. I’ll continue to

“I’m trying to improve my game so when I go back in the team I can maybe adapt more to what he’s looking for.

“I’m still learning. I want to do as well as I can at the things he is looking for me to do. If I can, and keep the standard of my play up, then I give myself a chance of getting a run in the team.”

Gordon received his first instructions after Saturday’s Premiership game and the former Hearts and Sunderland player said: “He’s looking for me to demand the defenders drop deeper to get on the ball.

“He wasn’t happy with some of their positioning when I had the ball.

“It’s little things like that that are going to help make sure we are all on the same page.”

“It would be good to get a run in the team but there’s a lot of competition”