Scottish Gossip: Aberdeen are a target, Rangers unstoppable says rival boss

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Celtic are ready to nurse defender Mikael Lustig back to fitness by only playing the Swede in the Europa League. (Sunday Mail)

Dumbarton boss Stevie Aitken reckons Rangers will have the Championship title wrapped up by February after they beat his team to make it 11 successive wins this season. (Sunday Mail)

Ladbrokes are weighing up a sponsorship deal for the League Cup on top of their backing of the SPFL. (Sunday Mail)

Inverness CT skipper Richie Foran insists he is ready for a proper comeback after making a seven-minute cameo at Tannadice yesterday - 18 months after his last league outing. (Sunday Mail)

Aberdeen captain Ryan Jack says sides will want to put the unbeaten league leaders in their place and "slap us down a bit". (Scotland on Sunday)

But former Dons hero Alex McLeish just can't see his old team sustaining a title challenge against champions Celtic. (Sunday Herald)

And Celtic star Kris Commons says Aberdeen's seven-wins-in-a-row start will not derail Celtic's bid for a fifth successive title. (Sun)

Poland's star striker Robert Lewandowski is a possible injury doubt for Scotland's crunch Euro 2016 qualifier at Hampden next month. (Sunday Mail)

Will Josh Strauss make his Scotland debut on Wednesday?

OTHER GOSSIP

Scotland are set to parachute Josh Strauss straight into Wednesday's World Cup opener against Japan. The 28-year-old flanker officially became eligible under residency rules yesterday. (Sunday Mail)

Following Japan's shock win over South Africa yesterday, Scotland assistant coach Jonathan Humphreys said they have "improved out of sight". (Sunday Mail)

Japan head coach Eddie Jones warns Scotland that his team have their sights set firmly on reaching the quarter-finals and says his players need to back up their famous win against Vern Cotter's side. (Sunday Herald)

Jim Hamilton, who retired from Scotland duty after missing out on a World Cup place says he was "hit sideways" by the selection of fellow second-row Tim Swanson but insists he is not bitter and is at peace with the situation now. (Sunday Times)

Australian Bernard Tomic says he has "nothing to lose" against Andy Murray in today's Davis Cup semi-final singles match in Glasgow. (Various)

Great Britain lead the tie 2-1 after the Murray brothers won a titanic doubles match yesterday and Aussie captain Wally Masur hopes the four-hour battle will have left Andy exhausted. (Various)