BETFRED League Cup winner Scott Bain has replaced Craig Gordon for this evening’s Scottish Cup-tie against First Division Airdrie at Parkhead.
Brendan Rodgers has kept faith with the keeper who was in position all the way through the earlier knock-out tournament.
Bain, who signed a permanent deal in the summer following his initial impressive loan spell from Dundee, had three shut-outs on the way to last month’s silverware success.
He lost a goal in the opening 3-1 win over Partick Thistle, but then had clean sheets against St Johnstone (1-0), Hearts (3-0) and Aberdeen (1-0) as Rodgers picked up his seventh piece of silverware in two-and-a-half years in charge at the Hoops.
Gordon, 36, had admitted he was desperate to play in his pursuit of his fourth medal in the competition after the last two successes against Aberdeen (2-1) and Motherwell (2-0).
The Scotland international, who won his first Cup medal with Hearts in 2006, said: “Of course, I want to be involved in the competition, but in the end it will be the manager’s decision.”
Bain, though, will take his place as the last line of defence while new Bhoy Oliver Burke, on a six-month loan from West Brom, leading the attack on his debut.
TEAM: Bain; Ralston, Boyata, Benkovic, Izaguirre; Brown, McGregor; Forrest, Christie, Sinclair; Burke. Subs: Gordon, Bitton, Lustig, Weah, Ajer, Henderson, Johnston.
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from tonight’s Celtic v Airdrie Cup clash – only in your champion CQN.
