After two years of frustration Craig Gordon is counting every match as he returns to full fitness and top form.
The Celtic keeper has shown no ill effects from the career threatening injury that saw him training with lower division clubs and taking on increasing media work.
Anyone watching Gordon performing for Celtic would be viewing a player at the very top of his game but after his long lay off the former Hearts and Sunderland keeper is till treading carefully on his return to competitive action.
“I was fine last week and could have played against Inverness,” he revealed. “There was much more being made of it than was actually the case. I was able to play but I’d played eight games in a row in a short space of time before that match.
“Being left out is just something that might have to happen, it’s all about long-term management of my knee. Playing all these games is the big test, that’s 16 now and, from playing none in two years, that’s a massive difference.
“It’s something I have to manage and if that means now and again I have to miss a game then so be it. Am I over that period of worrying about injuries? Yes, I’m fine now, playing in the games isn’t a problem. In fact, during them I’m thinking about nothing other than the match.
“Between fixtures I have to manage the knee and make sure it’s right for the next game.”
Gordon was back between the sticks for Celtic’s Europa League draw with Astra and will be in from the start for today’s trip to Aberdeen.
