CELTIC star Craig Gordon today admitted he would hate to end his playing career without having made it into the Champions League.

The goalkeeper has only played in the qualifying rounds with Celtic and Hearts, but on those two previous occasions, the latest being just last season, ended in disappointment.

Gordon expects to be busier tonight against FC Stjarnan than he was in the first leg seven days ago, which the Parkhead men won 2-0, but he is fully focussed in getting his team through this and the following two qualifiers.

And if he can achieve this, the 32-year-old will hang up his gloves many years from now a happy man.

He said: “The Champions League is a massive goal for me. It’s something I want to experience and it will take a massive effort over the next few weeks to get there.

“It’s a difficult competition. It’s hard to even reach the group stages nowadays as there are so many games.

“Did I envy the other clubs being in the Champions League? Absolutely. You want to play on that stage and test yourself at that level. I don’t think there’s a better competition in club football.

“It’s something I desperately want to try and do before the end of my career. I still have a while to do it, but I’d like it to happen as soon as possible and I have a good chance this season.

"I can’t want to try and experience it, but we have a lot of hard work to do."

Gordon has no doubts that Celtic have a big task ahead of them - starting with this evening's game.

He said: "We have to concentrate fully on this one and make sure we make it difficult for them. I don’t assume it will just happen.

"You can never assume anything in this game. To get to the group stages, you have to go through a lot of games against quality teams.

“We are certainly more prepared this time around. We know what the manager expects of us and in that respect, we have no excuses. But it’s still going to be very hard against a lot of quality opposition.”

Gordon had little to do in the first game, but he is prepared to earn his corn in this second match.

Stjarnan are massive underdogs, but that does not mean any Celtic players believe all they need do is to turn up.

Gordon said: “I don’t think I had a dive in the first game. I had a clean strip coming off the pitch.

“In saying that, there were a couple of close things and they could have sneaked an away goal. We still have to be very wary and make sure we do a good job out there.

“At some point, Stjarnan are going to have to come out and go for a goal. I would expect that we might have to do more work defensively.

"Away from home against anyone, that will be the case. We are expecting a hard game and we will try to win on its merits.”

Gordon and Celtic as a whole are better off with the return of Virgil van Dijk from suspension. He will partner new signing Dedryck Boyata, who scored last week on his debut in central defence, and the goalie likes the look of this team.

He said: “We have brought some good players in and it’s always that bit easier when you have quality players who know the position.

“The manager has been working in training with the back four. We are spending time together and getting to know each other. The more we play, the stronger we will be.”