CRAIG GORDON stepped off the Celtic team bus in Iceland a year ago only to be met with the chill gust of a snippy cold shoulder.

The Hoops stopper, newly arrived at the club and with a two-year injury spell on the sidelines just behind him, was well aware that he was not everyone’s immediate choice to replace the departing – and much lauded - Fraser Forster.

And it was not just the fact that he had been out of the game for so long that had a section of the Celtic supporters back up but rather that football fans are like elephants in so far as they never forget perceived slights against their team.

“I stepped off the bus and I got a bit of stick for coming up for a corner in a game for Hearts against Celtic many years ago,” he smiled. “ It was a nice welcome to the club but the same guy then asked for my strip at the end of the season so I must have turned him round a little bit.

“I can’t remember the exact words but I know that was a bee in the bonnet of many Celtic fans for a while. [Gordon has come up for a corner in last minute in a game Celtic were winning 1-0 in an end-of season game when both Celtic and Rangers were vying for title.]

“I gave the guy my shirt – I don’t hold a grudge!”

It says much about the consistency and performances of Gordon that he not only won over a support who have been spoiled in recent years with goalkeepers of considerable presence – both Artur Boruc and Forster were celebrated by the Celtic support for their endeavours between the sticks – but also the club’s hierarchy.

Gordon signed an extension to his current contract last week that will keep him at the club until 2018.

It is a remarkable turnaround for a player who looked as though he would not play first-team football again, let alone at the level he currently is.

And the keeper has revealed that it was the doubters – friends and family among them, not just supporters – whom he was determined to prove wrong last season.

"I'm pretty sure most of the Celtic support weren't overly enamoured with my signing in the first place,” he said.

"In a way that gave me great motivation to go and prove people wrong and prove I can still do what I want to - and play at that level.

"As time went on, the fans got behind me and the team and supported me really well last season.

"Once the chance came to extend the contract, I was always going to take it.

"I think the fans had written me off but everybody had - supporters, the media.

"Probably even most of my friends and families didn't think it was possible and that it would happen for me again.

"That was a great motivation for me to use last season and I don't have that anymore.

"I did what I set out to do and now I have set myself a new, higher set of goals than last season.

"I start again, try to get better and see where that takes me.”

This season ambitions will lie in being part of a Celtic team who makes it into the fabled environment of the UEFA Champions League group stages, although there is considerable mileage still to be played out before that particular goal can be realised.

Celtic face Qarabag next Wednesday in the humid heat of Azerbaijan and Gordon will likely find himself working up a sweat as he attempts to keep them at bay.

Qarabag impressed at Celtic Park on Wednesday night with their ability to keep the ball and remain unflustered under pressure, and although Ronny Deila’s side have a 1-0 lead to protect, Qarabag offered enough in that first leg to suggest it will be an anxious 90 minutes for Celtic.

Interestingly, for all that the Azerbaijan side clocked up some considerable results in the Europa League last term, they rarely score more than one goal at home which may offer some encouragement for Deila.

“I think they are a good team, they will create chances, we will have to defend very well and try to hit them on the counter-attack ourselves and try to get an away goal, which could prove quite important,” said Gordon. “We will have to look to create ourselves. I think they are a good team, they will create chances and we will have to play very well to keep ahead.”

Gordon believes that Celtic’s cause will be bolstered by the increasingly solid partnership that Virgil van Dijk and Dedryck Boyata have established.

“It is coming along it’s getting better in every game,” he said. “We’re still improving, still looking to work on things, but it has settled in fairly well. Dedryck is a good player. He’s played alongside some great players and you can see his qualities.

“I think the fans have taken to him straight away. He’s come in, he’s dominant in the air, he’s a good aggressive defender and he can also play. He is a good player and when you get guys of that quality coming in you do tend to get the relationship a little bit more quickly.”

Gordon will take his place for this afternoon’s 12.45pm kick-off against Ross County as Celtic unfurl the Championship flag and raise the curtain on the new campaign.

And Gordon is relieved that this season he will feel worthy of the applause that will greet Celtic as they hoist the flag.

“I was out on the pitch for the last one and didn’t feel as if I should be there having not played any part in the previous season achievements,” he said. “So it will be nice to go out this time and know that I had a part to play and contributed towards the winning of it.

“It will be a nice feeling to go out there and hopefully put on a good performance to start the league campaign off.”