Brendan Rodgers believes that Craig Gordon can play on until he is 40.
The Celtic keeper is out of contract at the end of this season but is a key figure in the success Rodgers’ side have enjoyed.
Celtic do have an option to extend Gordon’s contract by a year with the keeper happy to extend his stay at the club.
While it’s not been as noticable as it is with Stuart Armstrong or James Forrest, Gordon’s form has undergone a transformation under the new management.
Dorus de Vries took over for a month from a shaky keeper that looked unsure of his role but after being recalled to the side Gordon has repeatedly demonstrated his worth to the team.
“Craig is definitely one I want to keep,” the Daily Mail reported Rodgers saying. “You see now a different goalkeeper to when I first came in. How sure, how calm he is – and there is another clean sheet he got last Saturday.
“He still has a lot of games in him. He’s 34 soon but he’s a top goalkeeper who looks after his body, lives his life the right away. Guys like Edwin van der Saar go onto 40. He has a good few years left.
“I think his past injures could put years on to the end of his career. There are not so many miles on the clock. He is really enjoying this way of working. He is contributing to the team and he feels that, too, even when he doesn’t have lot to do.
“He can see how the top goalkeepers in the world function, the way they play football – and he’s been a really important player for us.”
Gordon will face Ross County tonight at Celtic Park then celebrate his 34th birthday at Ibrox when Celtic face Sevco looking to extend their lead at the top of the SPFL.