GORDON MAY PLAY
BRENDAN RODGERS insists he would have no hesitation in throwing Craig Gordon straight back into the Scottish Cup final — even if he’s gone three weeks without playing a competitive game. Sidelined with a knee injury since the 5-0 win over Rangers on April 29, the 35-year-old will not resume training until after Sunday’s final league game of the season against Aberdeen. Gordon will then face a race against time to prove his fitness ahead of the season’s finale with Motherwell at Hampden next Saturday — with Scott Bain set to continue between the sticks should he not make it. Rodgers, though, is adamant that he would be unconcerned about the Scotland international’s recent lack of game time — and will happily select him if he’s ready to play. Asked if Gordon could return despite the lay-off, Rodgers said: ‘He can do. In the big games, he’s performed great for us. It’s just going to be about fitness. Hopefully he’s okay but if he’s not, then we have a very capable guy in Scott Bain who has come in and been great since the first day he walked through the door.’ Leigh Griffiths, meanwhile, is poised to make his return against the Dons. Absent at Tynecastle last Sunday and for the midweek draw with Kilmarnock with a bout of tonsillitis, the 27-year-old is poised to bolster a squad already weakened by the hamstring injury suffered by Odsonne Edouard. ‘He’ll be back in training before the weekend,’ said Rodgers. ‘He lost a wee bit of weight, so it’s about just getting him energised again. Hopefully he’ll be available for the weekend.’