Jozo Simunovic has praised the contribution of Craig Gordon this season and expressed his delight that the Hoops keeper signed a long-term deal at the club.

Gordon was linked with a move to Chelsea in January after the Stamford Bridge side twice put in bids for the Scotland internationalist to Celtic.

They were rebuffed on each occasion by the Parkhead side and Gordon committed his future to Celtic by signing a three-and-a-half year deal earlier this month.

“He has been so reliable for us this season,” said Simunovic. “I was really pleased when he said that he was staying at the club because he is such a strong goalkeeper.

“I think it does give you confidence when you know you have that behind you – a really experienced and clever goalkeeper.

“It is good news for Celtic and it is good news for the defenders.”

Meanwhile, the 22-year-old Croatian has insisted that he doesn’t care where Celtic win the title after the international break.

The Hoops could collect their sixth successive championship without kicking a ball a week on Friday when Dundee host Aberdeen. Should the Dens Park side win then Celtic would go to Tynecastle on the Sunday afternoon as champions without having to kick a ball to cross the line.

Simunovic, though, has little preference to which way it transpires.

“When we started this season we wanted to win three trophies and we still have the chance to do that,” he said. “Personally, I would rather we won the league ourselves by beating Hearts, but it doesn’t matter too much. The most important thing is that we win the title. That is all that matters.

“It was what one of the aims was at the start of the season and when we achieve it we will be happy that we have done it.”

The defender was linked with a move to Torino in Italy in the summer, with the transfer falling through on the final minutes of the window. The Serie A side made inroads again during the January transfer window, but Simunovic has insisted that he remains content with life at Celtic.

“I am happy here in Glasgow,” he said. “I want to keep improving as a player, to keep getting better.

“I think this season I feel as though I have made those improvements. I feel that the manager believes in me and I think I have shown that I have something to offer.

“You never know what the future holds in football. But just now this is a club that plays European football every year, we are winning and we are successful. That isn’t something to ignore.

“The games in the Champions League were the highest level I have played in football. I want to experience more of that again next season. That means working hard to keep myself in the team because there is so much competition here for places.

“I want to play, but so does every player. I just have to try and do as the manager asks, train as hard as I can and hopefully I stay in the team.”