Sunday's Scottish gossip
Last updated on .From the section Football
FOOTBALL GOSSIP
Angry Celtic manager Neil Lennon has threatened to drop his underperforming players for the Champions League match against Benfica after their 2-1 defeat by St Johnstone.
Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle has warned that Celtic's defenders will be unable to handle Benfica striker Rodrigo, who spent a season on loan at the Reebok Stadium from Real Madrid.
Full story: Scotland on Sunday
Benfica defender Luisao could yet still play against Celtic in Glasgow as the Portuguese could appeal against a two-month ban for pushing a referee in a pre-season friendly.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon has resolved the Greek FA of any blame for Georgios Samaras picking up an injury against Latvia that rules the striker out of the Champions League group stage opener against Benfica.
Scotland striker Jordan Rhodes thinks he was axed by Ipswich Town as a teenager because manager Roy Keane and the Portman Road hierarchy did not like his dad, Andy, who was the club's goalkeeping coach, but that the decision made him more determined to succeed and prove them wrong.
Scotland coach Craig Levein has repeated his view that Jordan Rhodes is not yet ready to start at international level, despite the striker's double in Blackburn Rovers' 5-3 win over Bristol City.
Rangers manager and former Scotland striker Ally McCoist thinks Craig Levein is right to introduce Jordan Rhodes gradually into the Scotland starting line-up.
Craig Levein says his wife, Carol, cannot eat or sleep properly because of the pain she feels at the flak he receives as Scotland coach.
With 43%, Craig Levein has a worse winning record than Berti Vogts (49%) in competitive fixtures as Scotland boss and just ahed of George Burley (42%).
New signing Colin Nish, the striker on loan from Hartlepool United, broke his nose in the process of putting Dundee ahead in their 2-1 defeat by Motherwell.
Bristol Rovers manager Mark McGhee has told Scotland defender Garry Kenneth to lose weight and improve his general fitness following his move from Dundee United to the League Two club.
Dunfermline Athletic goalkeeper Paul Gallacher has taken a part-time coaching role at Alloa Athletic after Alan Combe departed for Hearts.
OTHER GOSSIP
Warwickshire's South African-born all-rounder, Neil Carter, could be drafted into Scotland's cricket squad to tour his homeland as he qualifies under he ICC's new parentage rule.
Edinburgh's Greig Tonks has sidestepped suggestions that he is likely to replace injured Chris Cusiter in the Scotland squad after the South African-born scrum-half's man of the match display in Friday's 41-10 demolition of Zebre.
Veteran full-back Hugo Southwell cannot understand why he is being overlooked for Scotland despite being London Wasps' player of the season last term and beginning this one on form.
Surprise Italian Open front-runner Garth Mulroy has turned down an invitation to the Alfred Dunhill Championship because he says Scotland in October is too cold.
