GORDON: HEARTS CAN CHALLENGE CELTIC

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon believes Hearts only need to look at Celtic's embarrassing Champions League defeat to Artmedia Bratislava for inspiration in their quest to shatter the Old Firm's stranglehold.

The Tynecastle side have set themselves the target of reclaiming third place from city rivals Hibernian following the arrival of George Burley as the club's new manager and three high calibre players during the close season.

However, following the Hoops humiliating 5-0 defeat in their Champions League qualifier, the 22 year-old Scotland keeper does not see any reason why they should not aim to split Rangers and Celtic in the SPL.

He said: "There is not a great deal in the difference of class in teams outwith the Old Firm and we've seen recently the Old Firm can be beaten, as you saw on Wednesday night.

"If we get off to a good start, get a bit of momentum behind us and make sure we are up at the right end of the table early on then there is no reason why we can't challenge the Old Firm.

"The Old Firm are not impregnable but we've known that, we've gone to Celtic Park and won and we've gone to Ibrox and won in the last couple of seasons.

"It can be done, we've taken points off them on a fairly regular basis compared to the rest of the teams in the SPL, so it can be done."

Manager Burley has added Czech pair Rudi Skacel and Roman Bednar to his pool along with former Champions League winner Edgaras Jankauskas, with all three expected to make their competitive debuts at Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Gordon believes the arrival of the triumvirate has added much-needed quality to the side.

He said: "We have added a lot of good quality players to the squad so things are looking good.

"They are definitely quality players, they have all played international football at some level, and it's definitely going to add to the squad.

"It is going to be difficult to get everybody playing well very quickly because of the amount of changes that have happened.

"But if we get off to a good start by getting three points on Saturday and get a few points on the board early on then we could be a force to be reckoned with."

Taken from sportinglife.com