Craig Gordon back between the sticks for Celtic - challenge to stay there, says Jon Gould

The Scotland internationalist was recalled to the Hoops starting XI after an injury to Dorus de Vries – but former Parkhead stopper Jonathan Gould has insisted that there is almost nothing between the two keepers.

Celtic head back into the Champions League next week looking to build on the point they took from Manchester City, a game that had Gordon between the sticks, and Gould will be a keen observer as Celtic face up to Borussia Monchengladbach.

Read more: Jonathan Gould: Hampden victory against Rangers one of my sweetest Celtic memories

Gould has been in a similar situation to Gordon when he found himself sidelined after the arrival of Rab Douglas at Celtic and he can appreciate the complexities psychologically when time has been spent out of the team.

“I think the first thing you do is go away and work out how to be better,” said Gould. “The challenge for you in that situation is to improve, to learn what the manager wants and to mould your game around those attributes.

"I am guessing that Craig will have taken a lot on board about what he has been asked to do by Brendan Rodgers.

Read more: Jonathan Gould: Hampden victory against Rangers one of my sweetest Celtic memories

“But I have watched both Gordon and De Vries during his time at Swansea and I have to say there is very little between them. They are both outstanding goalkeepers.

"De Vries might just need a little bit of time to understand what playing for Celtic means, but I remember he had a record 25 clean sheets at Swansea and I can tell you, that is something that takes some doing.

“You don’t do that without being a very good goalkeeper. I think we all know too what Gordon brings.

"He can be outstanding on his day and the way he came back from spending two years out of the game to performing at such high level tells you everything about him as a character.

“Most of us who spent time at Celtic have been in the same situation where you find yourself on the outside looking in. It is all then about what you do when you are out. Craig had a super save towards the end of the game when Celtic played Manchester City a few weeks backs and that will have done his confidence no harm at all.

“It really is now just a question of who stays in and that is simply a choice that only one man can make.”

Celtic play Motherwell this weekend before entertaining Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League next Wednesday night.

Bridging the gap between the routine afternoons of league football and Europe’s premier competition is something that Gould can appreciate given the chasm between the two levels.

“Peter Latchford was my goalkeeping coach for a long time at Celtic and he used to be able to predict how games would go,” said Gould. “He would tell me to expect shots at specific times and how certain players liked the ball and it was incredibly how accurate he was.

“Everyone knows that at Celtic you can be called upon to make just one save – but you still need to make it. The rest of the time the game tends to go on at the other end of the pitch.

“But in Europe you are almost a coach as a goalkeeper. So much is about organising your back four or back five, whatever you are playing with. You know as a keeper that if you are playing against Barcelona in the Champions League then you’re going to be busy.

“Making that switch is difficult but it is something you have to be able to do.

“When I was at Celtic Rab and I used to joke that David Marshall was the guy for Europe – and I often wondered if it was because he was young he was relatively fearless. He produced outstanding performances in Europe, including one at the Nou Camp, and sometimes I do think you can get distracted by thinking too much about it. Lots of it can simply be instinctive.”

Meanwhile, Gould has also revealed that he sees many similarities between Rodgers and his own former Celtic manager, Martin O’Neill.

The Irishman inherited a dressing room in disarray after the ill-fated John Barnes and Kenny Dalglish experiment and Gould saw the swift transition that took place once O’Neill got his feet under the desk.

Read more: Jonathan Gould: Hampden victory against Rangers one of my sweetest Celtic memories

“It is funny,” said Gould. “I remember watching Martin walk out onto the steps outside Celtic Park to speak to the Celtic supporters and how much of an impression he made on that very first appearance.

“Then, when I saw the sheer number who turned out for Brendan and heard how he addressed them, I couldn’t help but think just how similar they were. Both of them spoke, not about themselves, but of the success they want for the club. And that tells you so much about them.

“What I would say is that from a distance I am back in the position of wanting to watch Celtic. I see them on the TV and I want to sit and watch the game because I already know – just three or four months in – what kind of football they play. No disrespect, but I just didn’t have that in recent seasons.

“I loved Brendan’s Liverpool team that came so close to winning the title because of the purity of the football. It was a breath of fresh air and I have been thrilled to see that is exactly what he has set about implementing at Celtic.”