Scottish Gossip: Celtic's Armstrong targets six points against Molde

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Caretaker manager Erling Moe will prepare Molde for their Europa League home tie against Celtic on Thursday but new boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be in charge for the match. The former Manchester United forward wants his players to match his hunger for success. (Daily Express)

Celtic's Norwegian playmaker Stefan Johansen admits he has been "a little bit stupid" to play with a back injury which he feels has hampered his form this season. (Various)

Manager Ronny Deila, back in his homeland with Celtic, reckons Norwegians think Scottish football is "maybe worse" than their own standard, based on the results of Scottish clubs in European competition, and the relative achievements of the national teams. Norway have a Euro 2016 play-off to look forward to. (Various)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has returned to manage Molde

Celtic midfielder Stuart Armstrong is targeting six points from the back-to-back matches against Molde, believing two wins would set them up well for the rest of the season. (Various)

Solskjaer thinks that, should Deila do well with Celtic, "maybe the natural step" would be for him to manage in the English Premier League. (Daily Record, Sun)

Celtic assistant boss John Collins admits to being surprised that Molde top the Europa League group. (The National)

Former England striker Carlton Cole, 32, is close to signing a deal with Celtic, with whom he has been training for the past month. (Sun)

Dundee United manager Mixu Paatelainen is happy to have his old pal Gordon Young as his assistant because he knows Young is not afraid to disagree with him. (Sun)

Striker Nicky Clark, whose goal against Livingston on Tuesday put Rangers into the Petrofac Training Cup semi-finals, is confident that on-loan attacker Nathan Oduwa "won't go into his shell" after being on the receiving end of some heavy tackles against Livi and being subbed at half-time. (Daily Express)

Indeed, Clark thinks the rough treatment will only inspire Oduwa to try even harder. (Herald, Daily Mail)

Referee Andrew Dallas and Mark Burchill exchange words at Ibrox

Clark hopes his goal will help cement a starting place in Mark Warburton's team. (The National)

Livingston manager Mark Burchill says a first-minute challenge by midfielder Kieran Gibbons on Oduwa was "probably" worthy of a red card, but feels his player has been "hung out to dry". Burchill told Radio Clyde listeners that "Gibbons is a young, talented Scottish football player signed for a Scottish club. Nathan Oduwa is not signed for a Scottish club. So we are dragging one of our own over the coals." This prompted an angry response from the Rangers Supporters Trust. (Daily Mail)

Burchill has since apologised "for the use of such clumsy words". (Daily Record)

Following referee Alan Muir's controversial decision to award Hibernian a penalty, when Falkirk's Blair Alston collided with John McGinn in the box in Tuesday's Championship match, the Hibs midfielder says he agrees with the referee's call. The Scotland Under-21 captain admits he took a poor touch, but claims that he was barged over by Alston as he tried to recover the ball. (Various)

Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon admits to feeling the pressure as his Bolton side prop up the Championship table. Tuesday's loss to Birmingham City was their sixth defeat in 12 league matches. (Daily Mail)

Fenerbahce attacker Robin van Persie says playing for Feyenoord against Rangers at Ibrox in 2002 gave him his first love of European football. (Daily Record)

Uefa's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary panel will meet on Thursday and the Scottish Football Association will find out if it is in trouble over its handling of Scotland's recent Hampden match against Poland during which flares were set off by visiting supporters and a fan ran on to the pitch for a "selfie" with Poland striker Robert Lewandowski. (Daily Record)

OTHER GOSSIP

With only 10 minutes of Rugby World Cup action under his belt, Scotland scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne may go straight into the Edinburgh side to play Zebre in Italy on Saturday, while head coach Alan Solomons will rest Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford, Willem Nel and David Denton for two weeks after their efforts with the Scotland team. (Daily Mail)

Edinburgh loosehead prop Rory Sutherland says being called up to the Scotland squad last week as cover for the game against Australia has given him a confidence boost. (Scotsman)