OPINION
Being a goalkeeper is one of the most demanding jobs in all of football – especially when you are playing for a title chasing side like Celtic.
No other position is scrutinised quite as closely as that between the sticks as a mistake more often than not leads to a goal for the opposition and with no one else to blame, you are always in the firing line.
With just one position in the starting XI, a loss of form can lead to a goalkeeper going months without playing and it appears as though that particular situation has started to cause Hoops stopper Craig Gordon to get hot under the collar.
The Scottish international is reported by Football Insider to be considering a move away from Parkhead after dropping behind Scott Bain in the battle for the first choice shirt, the veteran playing just 32 times in the season just gone as injuries once again play their part in his career.
However, as one of two experienced shot stoppers at Celtic for next season, Dorus De Vries set for the exit door at the end of his contract, losing Gordon would only cause manager Neil Lennon a headache in the senior side and for that reason he must be ready to break the keeper’s heart and force him to remain for another year.
His contract is said to be up next summer, leaving him able to depart on a free but at 36-years-old you can understand why he might want to leave if he is not guaranteed game time.
Unfortunately for him, Celtic cannot afford to be wasting time nor money on sourcing a replacement for his place in the squad should he depart and with another gruelling campaign, with the demands of Champions League qualifiers adding to their challenges, they must not allowed to be caught out without two senior shot stoppers.
Gordon is coming to the end of his career and no doubt wants to play but Lennon needs to put the club first, meaning the goalkeeper’s hopes must be dashed if the manager decides so.