BIRTHDAY BHOY GORDON’S TREBLE TARGET

CRAIG GORDON turns 33 today – but hopes to hold back celebrations until the end of the season.

The birthday Bhoy intends to wait until May as he maintains his focus on a Celtic domestic clean sweep in the New Year.

Gordon, whose career was in jeopardy only a couple of years ago before his remarkable comeback from long-term injury, goes into 2016 with the Hoops top of the Premiership.

And the international keeper is aiming for Cup glory, too. He said: “We have a League Cup semi-final against Ross County and the start of the Scottish Cup to look forward to.

“We can think we are in a pretty good place and on course to achieve good things and have a successful season.

“We’ve shown time and time again the qualities which can separate us from the pack.

“It’s up to us to show that again and go on a run to put pressure on the teams around us.”

Partick Thistle are the champions’ first-footers on Saturday and Alan Archibald’s side are pushing for a place in the top six. At the moment they are just one point behind Inverness Caley Thistle.

The Maryhill side have conceded fewer goals – 23 – than three of the teams ahead of them in the Premiership, St Johnstone (31), Ross County (31) and John Hughes’ Highlanders (30).

It’s a statistic that has impressed Gordon. Talking to the match programme, he added: “They haven’t lost many goals, either.

“They have been very strong and when you go on a run like that it’s easier as it gives you of confidence and they will be looking to come here and get a result. 

“They have clawed their way up from the bottom of the league and they will be aiming to keep that going against us.

“But we will be looking to put things right from the last home game, put on a good show and get the three points.”

The shotstopper, who cost a-then record fee of £9million when Roy Keane bought him for Sunderland from Hearts in 2001, joked: “It’s not a great time for a birthday as everyone is having a party anyway, so it can sometimes go unnoticed.

“I share my birthday with Sir Alex Ferguson and Steve Bruce, who was my manager at Sunderland.

“It was a a bit strange when we wished one another happy birthday when we were at the same club.

“Actually, it’s a strange birthday to have with everything that goes on at that time, but I don’t mind it.”

“My objectives are about football. Now it’s time to really get the points on the board and go on the type run we are capable of.”