CRAIG GORDON is bracing himself for what could be the most testing month of his career - but he can't wait for it to start.

The 31-year-old Celtic keeper - out of the game for more than two years before joining the Hoops - is battling with Allan McGregor and David Marshall to start for Scotland in Sunday's Euro 2016 qualifier against World Cup holders Germany in Dortmund.

It would be Gordon's 41st cap and his first appearance for his country since 2010.

Then it's back to club business and the visit of Aberdeen to Celtic Park in the SPFL Premiership followed by a trip to Austria to face Salzburg in the Europa League.

The hectic schedule will continue after that but Gordon insisted: "I've had a decent start with Celtic but I'm looking to do better. It was great to get back into the Scotland squad but my target now is to get back in the team. I don't want to come along to make up the numbers."

During September Celtic will also face league games against Motherwell and St Mirren plus a League Cup tie against Gordon's old club, Hearts.

It's a tough schedule guaranteed to test to the maximum the knee injury which threatened to end his career prematurely.

But the keeper is raring to go in what will be a key month for club and country.

And he wants to play his part by adding to the lone clean sheet he has managed to record in his first five games for the Hoops.

He said: "When I signed, I didn't know how it would pan out. I was happy to get back to full-time training and full-time employment, do as much training as I could and get a chance to play some games.

"I have done reasonably well so far and I'm hoping that I can continue that. I've been trying to get better.

"I haven't played many games in the last few years, so I'm still bedding myself in and trying to get used to the players around me."

The only cloud on Gordon's horizon has come in Europe, where he was helpless to prevent Maribor knocking Celtic out of the Champions League race.

"We were disappointed with the European results but, hopefully, I did okay in the games," he added. "It is a work in progress but I'm quite happy with the way things have gone so far."

The keeper would be even happier if Gordon Strachan selected him to face Germany though, for now, he is delighted just to be back in the Scotland fold.

"I hadn't set myself a goal to try to be in the squad for this game," he revealed. "I wanted to get back in with Scotland, however long it took. Whether it was a month or a year, it was a goal I was working towards. So it was nice to be called up again so soon.

"I wasn't totally expecting it. I thought it might be a bit early as I have only played a few games but I must have done well enough in those few games to show I'm back at a level to be considered for the Scotland squad."

Gordon insists he has no intention of acting as only an understudy to Hull City's Allan McGregor and Cardiff City's David Marshall but admits he has got a lot out of training with them.

He said: "I have enjoyed meeting up with the squad and it's good competition with Allan and David.

"The standard of training among the keepers is fantastic. It's been great to be involved in it and it improves my game as well.

"The next stage is to try to show up well in training and put pressure on the other two keepers and force myself into contention for a starting spot."