CRAIG GORDON has been told he MUST quit Celtic in January.
That’s the advice from former Hoops keeper Rab Douglas who has urged the former Scotland No.1 to leave Parkhead to pursue first-team football elsewhere.
Thirty-six-year-old Gordon has dropped down the pecking order since the summer arrival of Fraser Forster on a season-long loan from Southampton.
Scott Bain has also been handed a new four-year deal and looks to be a part of the team’s long-term plans. Ex-boss Brendan Rodgers brought him into the first team at the turn of the year and he held his position until the injuring a hand in the 4-3 Champions League exit against Cluj in August.
Gordon played in the 1-1 draw with Rennes in France before Forster came in for the 3-1 Premiership win over Hearts and has remained in place ever since.
The towering Englishman will be in goal against Lazio in the Europa League Group E encounter in Rome tomorrow night while Gordon takes his place on the substitutes’ bench.
Arbroath goalkeeping coach Douglas believes Gordon, 36, needs to be playing regularly at this stage in his career.
The former Scotland star BBC Sportsound : “I think it will get to January and Craig will have a discussion with Lennon.
“I don’t think anybody wants to sit in the bench. It’s not about the money. Craig will have enough money.
“The big thing is going out playing and enjoying it. He’s coming to the tail-end of his career now, he needs to go to a level where he is really enjoying his football.
“Celtic might want to free up wages and bring a younger goalie in. They’ve certainly got the two boys out at Championship clubs on loan, so it will be interesting how Lennon deals with that.”
