Thursday 30 October 2014 17:40, UK
Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon says he would relish the chance to face Rangers if the clubs were paired in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals.
The Scotland international has been a revelation for the champions since joining in the summer and helped them secure their place in the last four with a 6-0 victory over Partick Thistle.
On Tuesday Rangers beat Premiership opposition for the second time in the competition, a 1-0 win over St Johnstone, and the Glasgow sides will be joined in the semis by Dundee United and Aberdeen, conquerors of Hibs and Hamilton respectively.
Rangers are a good team and have good strength in depth in their squad. Everybody can beat everybody left in the competition.
Gordon, who trained with Rangers towards the end of last season following a two-year lay-off with a serious knee injury, insists he does not consider Ally McCoist's side as the easiest passage into the final despite their Championship status.
McCoist, who guided his side to victory over Inverness in the last round, has already said he would prefer to give the Hoops a wide berth but Gordon insists whoever Celtic play will prove tough opposition.
"It doesn't make a difference, our aim is to try to win the trophy. Whoever we play it's going to be a difficult game," said the former Hearts and Sunderland keeper.
"Rangers are a good team and have good strength in depth in their squad. Everybody can beat everybody left in the competition.
"The draw has not been made yet, but we're talking about the possibility of a Celtic-Rangers game. Would I relish it? Yeah, of course. Everybody wants to play in big games.
We want to win the treble and we will take whatever side comes in front of us. It is you the media who wants the Rangers draw.
"A semi-final is a big enough game regardless of who you're going to play. Yeah, they're big games and of course it would be great to get them back and playing them more regularly.
"We'll need to wait and see if the draw brings us together or whether we go our separate ways and to try to win the semi-finals. It's a few months away, we've got plenty of games and time to go in between times."
But Gordon's boss Ronny Deila was less forthcoming on his views of the Scottish League One champions when asked his preferred semi-final opponents.
"It is not about Rangers, it is about winning the League Cup," he said. "We want to win the treble and we will take whatever side comes in front of us. It is you (the media) who wants that (Rangers draw).
"It is a semi-final. Whoever we meet, it is going to be big. But I think the best teams are in the top division. That's how it is. The teams in the top division are playing at a higher level every week and that is an important thing.
"We play in Europe also where you have the possibility to show yourself against teams with the best tempo. But the cup is the cup and you never know. Whoever you meet it is going to be exciting and it is going to be two good semi-finals."
