Saturday's Scottish gossip

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Celtic attacker Paddy McCourt, 27, has become fed-up on the bench and wants to leave the club. (The Sun)

Ibrox striker Nikica Jelavic believes the way team is playing "is not Rangers" and says he is puzzled as to why their form has dipped from the end of last season. (The Sun)

Sion players Goran Obradovic, Arnaud Bruher and Giovanni Sio say they expected to face a better Celtic side than the one they drew 0-0 with in the Europa League in Glasgow on Thursday. (The Star)

Celtic boss Neil Lennon urges the club's hierarchy to reject any offers for Beram Kayal and Ki Sung-Yueng. (Daily Express)

Rangers manager Ally McCoist says he is "convinced" that his team can overturn their 2-1 Europa League first-leg defeat by Maribor when the teams meet at Ibrox on Thursday. (Daily Express)

McCoist has made signing a striker his priority in the last few weeks of the transfer window. (The Herald)

Hibs manager Colin Calderwood hopes Martin Scott and Sean Welsh can settle their differences now that the latter has returned to training after being punched by Scott. (The Herald)

If the Scottish teams do not make it into the Europa League group stages, then the winners of the 2012/13 Scottish Premier League could have to play three qualifying rounds to reach the Champions League. (The Herald)

Hearts manager Paulo Sergio says the heavy loss to Tottenham is his problem alone, not Scottish football's. (The Sun)

OTHER GOSSIP

John Barclay is desperate to perform well against Italy at Murrayfield, having not played for five months. (Daily Express)