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FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Celtic were hit with the bombshell news last night that skipper Scott Brown could be sidelined for up to a month. (Daily Record)[1]

Celtic have been rocked by the news that crocked Scott Brown could miss three crucial games. The Hoops skipper is facing 10 days out injured and won’t travel with Brendan Rodgers’ squad for Thursday’s Europa League clash with Bundesliga cracks RB Leipzig. (Scottish Sun)[2]

Murrayfield is on course to stage Scotland’s biggest attended football match in 29 years when Hearts and Celtic battle it out in Sunday’s Betfred Cup semi-final. (Daily Record)[3]

Andrew Considine wants more League Cup glory this season — as it could be his last with Aberdeen. (Scottish Sun)[4]

Craig Levein expects Hearts to enter Sunday’s Betfred Cup semi-final with Celtic brimming with confidence after stretching their lead atop the Premiership to six points. (Edinburgh Evening News)[5]

Former Rangers assistant manager Jimmy Nicholl says current captain James Tavernier “isn’t a kick in the backside away from being a really top player”. (Scotsman)[6]

Former Aberdeen favourite Dean Windass says his life has been left in tatters by the tax avoidance scandal which has embroiled hundreds of celebrities. (Daily Record)[7]

Barrie McKay hopes Rangers can continue to harness the Ibrox feel-good factor created by boss Steven Gerrard this season. (Herald)[8]

Celtic wonderkid Karamoko Dembele scored on his reserves debut at the age of 15 as they beat Partick Thistle 6-0. There is a battle between Scotland and England over the teenager as he is able to play for both. (Scottish Daily Mail)[9]

St Mirren are hoping the introduction of boxing sessions will help them finally land another knock-out blow on their Premiership opponents. (Herald)[10]

Former Hibs captain Ian Murray has revealed why he turned his back on an extended stay in Norway to move back to Scotland with Airdrie. (Edinburgh Evening News)[11]

Ross County co-manager Stuart Kettlewell says the Staggies’ shortage of defensive options could present teenager Tom Grivosti with a start in Saturday’s Championship game against Morton. (Press and Journal) [12]

Wednesday’s English Gossip[13]

References

^ (Daily Record) (www.dailyrecord.co.uk)

^ (Scottish Sun) (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)

^ (Daily Record) (www.dailyrecord.co.uk)

^ (Scottish Sun) (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)

^ (Edinburgh Evening News) (www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com)

^ (Scotsman) (www.scotsman.com)

^ (Daily Record) (www.dailyrecord.co.uk)

^ (Herald) (www.heraldscotland.com)

^ (Scottish Daily Mail) (www.dailymail.co.uk)

^ (Herald) (www.heraldscotland.com)

^ (Edinburgh Evening News) (www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com)

^ (Press and Journal) (www.pressandjournal.co.uk)

^ Wednesday’s English Gossip (www.bbc.co.uk)

BBC Sport – Scottish

Liam Kelly could lead the “next batch” of Scotland goalkeepers, says former international forward Kenny Miller.

Scotland Under-21 cap Kelly, 22, left Rangers to join Livingston in the summer and has kept eight clean sheets in 12 appearances so far this season.

Miller and Kelly were team-mates at Ibrox and Miller briefly managed the keeper at Livi earlier this season.

“He’s excellent with the ball at his feet. He’s a proper modern-day goalkeeper,” said Dundee’s Miller, 38.

“I’ve known him a long time. He’s only young. He’s an absolutely excellent goalkeeper.

“He’s got the most clean sheets in the Premiership. He’s number one.”

‘Rangers players refused to shake hands’[1]

Livingston ‘aim two fingers at critics’[2]

Celtic’s Craig Gordon, Rangers’ Allan McGregor and Sunderland’s Jon McLaughlin are the three keepers in Alex McLeish’s latest Scotland squad,[3] with Millwall’s Jordan Archer also having been in recent squads. All four have played for the national team in 2018.

“You look at the goalkeepers we’ve got just now – they’re outstanding,” Miller, who won 69 Scotland caps, told BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound.[4]

“But for the next batch, I don’t think there’ll be many better than Liam Kelly, particularly when the national team wants to try and play a certain way. I don’t think there’ll be many better with the ball at their feet.”

Kelly helped Livi secure a 1-0 win over Rangers on Sunday and move third in the Premiership, a week after saving a Steven Naismith penalty in the 0-0 draw with Hearts.

Livingston’s next Premiership fixture is away at Motherwell on Saturday.

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References

^ ‘Rangers players refused to shake hands’ (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ Livingston ‘aim two fingers at critics’ (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ latest Scotland squad, (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ Sportsound. (www.bbc.co.uk)

BBC Sport – Scottish

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FOOTBALL GOSSIP

England manager Gareth Southgate could snatch Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney, who has been capped twice in friendlies, from Scotland. (Scottish Sun)[1]

Brendan Rodgers insists Leigh Griffiths can have no complaints about Steven Naismith jumping ahead of him in the Scotland queue. (Daily Record)[2]

Steven Gerrard has challenged his Rangers players to make history by winning in Spain and then justify his belief that they can upset the odds and qualify from their tough Europa League group. (Times, subscription required)[3]

Motherwell and St Mirren are keeping tabs on Dutch winger Morad El Haddouti, the 20-year-old starring with NEC Nijmegen’s Under-23 side. (Scottish Sun)[4]

Gordon Strachan has denied any knowledge of a sinister plot to stop Rangers winning the title in 2008. (Daily Record)[5]

Martin Boyle is in line to become Hibs’ latest Socceroo after face-to-face talks with boss Graham Arnold. (Scottish Sun)[6]

The man in charge of football’s international rule-book, IFAB technical director David Elleray, wants urgent talks with the SFA over the string of highly contentious red card decisions which have caused early season chaos in Scotland’s top flight. (Daily Record) [7]

Celtic’s Kieran Tierney says the Europa League will never be a second-rate tournament after facing Robin van Persie and Nani in an unexpected continental debut in the competition three years ago. (Scottish Daily Mail)[8]

Don Cowie believes Hearts have enough factors going in their favour to be able to mount a genuine challenge for the Scottish Premiership title this season. (Edinburgh Evening News)[9]

Inverness Caley Thistle midfielder Riccardo Calder is making the most of downtime away from the pitch by recording his own rap music. (Press and Journal)[10]

Former Scotland and Celtic midfielder Barry Robson insists he is ready to take his first step into management after being linked with the vacant Raith Rovers post. (Herald, print edition)

English football gossip[11]

OTHER GOSSIP

Glasgow Warriors and Scotland star Stuart Hogg faces ankle surgery and will be sidelined for up to two months. (Scottish Daily Mail)[12]

Edinburgh centre James Johnstone accepts that Mark Bennett’s injury setback presents him with an opportunity but takes no pleasure from his luckless team-mate’s latest blow. (Scotsman)[13]

Sergio Garcia believes he has no point to prove in next week’s Ryder Cup in Paris, insisting he can’t just be judged by his performance on the course after controversially securing one of Thomas Bjorn’s European wildcards. (Scotsman)[14]

References

^ (Scottish Sun) (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)

^ (Daily Record) (www.dailyrecord.co.uk)

^ (Times, subscription required) (www.thetimes.co.uk)

^ (Scottish Sun) (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)

^ (Daily Record) (www.dailyrecord.co.uk)

^ (Scottish Sun) (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)

^ (Daily Record) (www.dailyrecord.co.uk)

^ (Scottish Daily Mail) (www.dailymail.co.uk)

^ (Edinburgh Evening News) (www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com)

^ (Press and Journal) (www.pressandjournal.co.uk)

^ English football gossip (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ (Scottish Daily Mail) (www.dailymail.co.uk)

^ (Scotsman) (www.scotsman.com)

^ (Scotsman) (www.scotsman.com)

BBC Sport – Scottish

Former Celtic forward Scott McDonald expects Kieran Tierney to stay at the club for at least another year.

The Scotland left-back, 21, has been heavily linked with Everton and other Premier League clubs.

Tierney has made 130 club appearances since making his debut in 2015 and is contracted until 2023.

“I think he might possibly just stay on for even another year, maybe two more,” McDonald told BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound.[1]

“If they’re offering the amounts of money that can be offered down in England then it would be a huge temptation but we’ve seen in the past how much he loves the football club and he’s still only young.

“If he holds out another year or two, I think opportunities do open up. Someone like Man United, that has been touted with the struggles that they have found at left-back.

Sunday’s Scottish Gossip – English clubs chase Tierney[2]

Listen: McDonald & O’Dea on Scottish football podcast[3]

“Certainly, if they were the ones tabling the bid, you would jump. I think you would have to jump to go to a Manchester United or the likes of them in the Champions League competitions. Everton, outside the top six clubs, you would argue are probably the next one.”

Free agent McDonald, 34, believes it will be left up to the player if an acceptable bid arrives.

“It really depends on Kieran Tierney himself for me at this point,” said the striker, who scored 64 goals in 128 Celtic appearances between 2007 and 2010.

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“Celtic as a football club, I don’t think they’ll want to lose him but it certainly tests their resolve – if £25m is slapped on to the table, that’s a hard amount to say ‘no’ to and then I think pretty much it’ll be in the player’s hands.

“People are going to go mad when I say there’s still a question mark on Kieran Tierney, especially at that level. The physicality and the pace of the game down there is completely night and day from what you get week in, week out here. I think he’s more than willing, more than capable, to go and rise to that test.

“It’s not so much him, it’s what he’s up against. It’s the bigger physical specimen that he’s going to come up against.”

‘Van Dijk the perfect example for Tierney’

Former Celtic defender Darren O’Dea, now with Dundee, cited the examples of former Dundee United left-back Andy Robertson and ex-Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk, who joined Hull City and Southampton respectively before both moving to Liverpool.

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“It depends where he wants to go,” said O’Dea, 31, of Tierney.

“I might be wrong, not because of his ability, but I don’t believe he’ll move directly from Celtic to a top-four team in England.

“If he sees his career going to a Man United, whatever it may be, similar to Andy Robertson, I think he needs to make a step, I wouldn’t say down – Everton’s an unbelievable football club, a huge football club.

“Van Dijk’s the perfect example. I think Van Dijk was as good as I’ve seen at centre-back.”

References

^ Sportsound. (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ Sunday’s Scottish Gossip – English clubs chase Tierney (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ Listen: McDonald & O’Dea on Scottish football podcast (www.bbc.co.uk)

BBC Sport – Scottish

Stephen O’Donnell says being in the Scotland squad[1] is “the icing on the cake” after an impressive first season at Kilmarnock.

The right-back, 26, joined the Rugby Park club last summer and helped them finish fifth in the Premiership.

O’Donnell could make his international debut against either Peru or Mexico.

“The only target I’d set when I signed for Kilmarnock was to play, enjoy my football and finish in the top six,” he said.

“Fortunately enough, we managed to do that, and the Scotland call-up is just the icing on the cake. It’s nothing I could even have dreamed of, so I’m very excited.

“I know the call-up is for me personally but Kilmarnock this season have been outstanding as a team and since the manager Steve Clarke has come in, he’s emphasised that.

“Obviously I’m delighted that it’s myself that’s coming but it could have been a number of us that got the call.”

Armstrong & Souttar out of Scots squad[2]

McLean relishes Scotland opportunities[3]

Alex McLeish’s side take on Peru in Lima in the early hours of 30 May (UK time) before Mexico host Scotland on 3 June.

O’Donnell is one of nine uncapped players in McLeish’s squad, with seven-times capped Callum Paterson his probable rival for the right-back slot.

“There’s plenty of talent in the Scotland squad; this squad, previous squads, future squads,” said O’Donnell. “I just need to try to take this opportunity, show the staff what I’m capable of and if that leads to future calls, I’ll be delighted.

“Ryan Fraser, Callum Paterson, James Forrest have all played right wingback and they’ve all been brilliant, so I’m not naive enough to think I should be knocking on the door, but hopefully if I do myself justice over here, I’ll have half a chance.

“Every player who has come on this trip wants to try to make a name for himself and show everyone in the nation that you’re capable of performing at the top level.”

‘Clarke has made me calmer’

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O’Donnell’s Killie boss Clarke, himself a right-back as a player, featured six times for Scotland and made more than 500 league appearances across spells at St Mirren and Chelsea.

“I’ve been fortunate that a few of my managers have been defenders, including Jackie McNamara at Partick Thistle,” added O’Donnell, who scored four goals this season.

“The great thing that Steve Clarke has brought to my game, that I was lacking, is that I’m now a bit calmer. I get worked up quite a lot. Because I care, it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

“But I get worked up and he’s at the side of the pitch at half-time and full-time and he’s just a calming influence. You look at him and nothing bothers him. Well, the occasional bad refereeing decision, but that bothers all of us.

“I’ve a long way to go, still, but I’ll be working on that next season.”

References

^ being in the Scotland squad (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ Armstrong & Souttar out of Scots squad (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ McLean relishes Scotland opportunities (www.bbc.co.uk)

BBC Sport – Scottish

Steven Gerrard could change Rangers’ fortunes despite his lack of managerial experience, believes his former Liverpool team-mate Charlie Adam.

The former England captain, 37, has held talks[1] with the Glasgow giants and is said to be keen on taking the job.

“Stevie is a winner. He has been at the highest level,” Adam, who started his career at Ibrox, told BBC Sportsound.[2]

“Yes, he has not got the coaching experience of others, but you have got to start somewhere.”

Barnes acts as warning for Gerrard[3]

Celtic supremacy highlights Old Firm mismatch[4]

Rangers ‘must set new boss realistic targets’[5]

Rangers job a ‘no brainer’ for Gerrard[6]

Contrary to many observers, Stoke midfielder Adam believes Rangers would be “a great first job” for Gerrard, who has coached Liverpool’s Under-18s since retiring from playing two years ago.

‘Why can’t he handle pressure as a manager?’

“It is going to be a big one but I think he could be the one who could hopefully change the fortunes,” said the former Scotland international, who played alongside Gerrard at Anfield.

“From what I am hearing, he is keen on the job, and what it will come down to is what he has got available to spend in the summer, because it does need an overhaul of players.

“Good-quality players need to come in and they are hard to find and it is going to cost a lot of money.

“This is a different scenario to coaching the Under-18s at Liverpool, and we can’t hide from that. There is a lot more pressure. Can he handle it? He has handled it all his career, so why can’t he as a manager?

“It is a difficult situation because Celtic are on the crest of a wave, they have won seven titles in a row, and with the momentum they have got, it is going to be hard to stop Celtic.

“Financially, Celtic can sell three or four players for £30-40m in the summer and re-invest that and be strong again. So it is going to be a tough ask, but I think he is the one at the moment who could change it.”

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Adam, 32, was at Rangers from 2003 to 2009 and admits it was “embarrassing” to watch the manner of their 5-0 defeat by Celtic, which saw their great rivals secure another title.

But rather than be put off by their performance, Adam believes Gerrard “will relish the challenge” of taking on Celtic, and his former Liverpool boss, Brendan Rodgers.

“The character he is, he will probably be thinking, ‘I can be the one who can change it’. He is brave enough to come in and stamp his authority on it.

“But you could put whoever you want in; it will come down to finances. That is the biggest problem Rangers are going to have over the next few years – trying to compete with Celtic financially.

“It is important now that the board – or whoever is in charge of Rangers – brings the money to the table and they can spend it well.

“It is not just buying players for a million quid. You have to spend £2m, £3m, £4m on players. It is going to be a thankless task but at the moment, I think he [Gerrard] is the one who can do it.

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“He knows the game, he has been to a few Old Firm games, he knows players, would probably try to bring a lot of players up from England and improve Rangers. It is going to be tough but I would like to see it happen for him.

“He is a leader. He expects a certain standard and if you are not at the standard he expects, it will be difficult for you as a player.

‘I’d never rule out a return to Rangers’

“He won’t take any messing, he will tell it as it is. I think that is what Rangers need.

“I think too many players are not at the level to be playing for Rangers, and if he does get in there, he has to change that and try to get the right players in.”

Adam, who has only featured in 11 league games for Stoke this season as they battle relegation from the Premier League, admits he wouldn’t be averse to a return to Rangers.

“We are in a relegation battle at the moment,” he added. “My future will be sorted in the summer, and we will see what happens.

“I am never going to rule it out. It is the club I started at. They say ‘never go back’ but as a former player, it hurts to see Celtic dominating so much.

“You never know what is around the corner in this game.”

References

^ has held talks (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ BBC Sportsound. (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ Barnes acts as warning for Gerrard (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ Celtic supremacy highlights Old Firm mismatch (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ Rangers ‘must set new boss realistic targets’ (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ Rangers job a ‘no brainer’ for Gerrard (www.bbc.co.uk)

BBC Sport – Scottish

Fulham owner Shahid Khan says he hopes a deal to buy Wembley Stadium from the Football Association will be completed in eight to 12 weeks.

Khan, who also owns NFL side Jacksonville Jaguars, has made an offer thought to be worth £900m.

It is understood he would pay £600m for the stadium and the FA will continue to run the £300m-valued Club Wembley hospitality business.

“This offer makes a lot of sense for us,” he told BBC Sport.

“When I say us, I’m talking about the Jaguars, NFL, Wembley, and I think it also makes a lot of sense for the FA and the English football team.

“I’m pretty confident – that’s why we’re putting our name, our reputation on the line to get it done.”

Khan said England games would remain at Wembley and he would retain the stadium’s name.

BBC Sport understands selling Wembley would allow the FA to make a major investment into football at grassroots level.

Pakistan-born Khan has a current net worth of $ 7.2bn (£5.2bn) and is the 217th richest person in the world, according to the 2018 Forbes rich list.

He said he understands fans’ concerns over his offer for the 90,000-seat stadium, which is the largest in the United Kingdom.

“I think they have to understand the value and the attraction for myself,” Khan added.

“We’ll leave the tradition and the stadium itself. Even though this is a new stadium, it does need upgrades.

“Under this arrangement the FA retains the right, the revenue, and that is really the most positive part of Wembley for the FA. So they will be retaining it and obviously we want it to be there.”

The 67-year-old added that the deal would make lead to “more meaningful discussions” over a permanent NFL franchise in London.

“NFL has been playing in London since 2007,” he said. “Until now, NFL doesn’t have a stadium solution or have a home. And it can’t work with a Premier League club, because of the schedule. It does work very well with Wembley, so I think it makes it closer.”

According to the FA’s latest financial results, it still owes £113m to public bodies such as Sport England, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, plus the London Development Agency, which helped pay to build the stadium, which cost £757m and opened in 2007.

In January, the FA said it would finish paying for the ground by the end of 2024.

In a statement, Sport England said it had invested £120m of National Lottery money into the development of Wembley and it looked forward to “hearing more detail about how such a deal would work and whether it would benefit grassroots sport”.

‘It could be a positive move’ – reaction to Khan offer

Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokesman: “This process is at an early stage and it’s ultimately a decision for the FA. But Wembley is the historic home of English football and holds a very special place in the hearts of fans up and down the country and I’m sure the FA will want to strongly consider the views of these supporters before deciding what to do next.”

Labour Shadow Sports Minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: “The FA should not rush into any deal to sell and any deal must guarantee that England continue to play at Wembley as well as around the country; that major tournaments, cup finals and play-offs for multiple sports are still held at Wembley; and that ticket prices for England games are frozen for 10 years. The FA needs to guarantee that profits of the sale will be put into grassroots football to ensure that future generations will benefit.”

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Crystal Palace boss and former England manager and Roy Hodgson: “I am a massive supporter of Wembley as the national stadium and England playing there but I also have great faith in the FA that they won’t be making decisions lightly. If they think that is a good deal, a deal that will bring in money that they can spend in a better way, then I would be behind that.”

Former England captain and BBC Sport presenter Gary Lineker on Twitter: “If the money goes towards grassroots football, most importantly on pitches, artificial and otherwise, for youngsters to play then it could be a positive move.”

Swansea manager Carlos Carvalhal, who guided Sheffield Wednesday to the 2016 Championship play-off final: “I think they are monuments and we can’t sell them in my opinion. If you sell Wembley you can sell Big Ben and Buckingham Palace? We can’t sell monuments, it is culture, and you can’t sell culture.”

Chairman of Matchroom Sports and former Leyton Orient owner Barry Hearn: “Unless there’s a very good reason why it shouldn’t be sold, frankly the laws of commerce take over. It’s he who has most will win. I would be saddened but I would be realistic enough to say it’s life in the current system.”

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BBC Sport – Football

Jamie Vardy leaving Leicester to join Arsenal “could be catastrophic” for the Premier League champions, says former Foxes defender Gerry Taggart.

Leicester striker Vardy, 29, is deciding over a reported £120,000-a-week[1] offer from Arsenal.

Vardy, who is part of England’s Euro 2016 squad in France, only signed a new three-year deal worth a reported £80,000-a-week[2] in February.

The Gunners triggered Vardy’s release clause[3] with a £20m bid on Friday.

Leicester are reported to have made an improved counter-offer in a bid to keep Vardy, who scored 24 goals to help Claudio Ranieri’s side claim an historic first top-flight title.

Vardy had been expected to make a decision on Monday before flying to France with England, but he arrived at the team’s base in Chantilly with no update on his future.

“If Jamie goes then one or two others might want to leave as well,” ex-Northern Ireland international Taggart told BBC Radio 5 live.[4] “The whole Leicester ethos over the last couple of seasons has been built around people like Vardy.

“I know the backroom staff at Leicester very well and if it does happen they will try and bring in the best replacement they can for whatever money is available. But for the good of the whole team and the club it is important Vardy stays.”

Vardy joined Leicester from Fleetwood for £1m in 2012.

He was named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year for 2015-16 and has scored three times in eight games for England since his debut in 2015.

References

^ reported £120,000-a-week (www.mirror.co.uk)

^ £80,000-a-week (www.telegraph.co.uk)

^ triggered Vardy’s release clause (www.theguardian.com)

^ told BBC Radio 5 live. (www.bbc.co.uk)

BBC Sport – Football