NO WAY I'D DROP GAZ

BENFICA blunder Bhoy Gary Caldwell will not be dropped against Hearts today.

Gordon Strachan will stick by the defender who scored an own goal and sold another to the Portuguese in the 3-0 Champions League defeat on Wednesday night.

And the manager insists there was never going to be any other decision.

Last night Strachan said: "There was no selection dilemma. Thomas Gravesen was given the blame for the game we lost against Manchester United at Old Trafford and now it's Gary's turn for personal criticism. But I'm not having it. If something happens to Celtic it happens to all of us - not one individual."

Strachan could have opted to bring back Bobo Blade but Celtic's highest-paid player will again watch Caldwell continue the first-choice partnership between himself and Stephen McManus.

Caldwell will keep his place at the same time as Gravesen and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink are on the verge of coming back from injury in time to face Manchester United at Celtic Park on November 21 in what is now the crunch Champions League tie. The Dane and the Dutchman are being pencilled in provisionally for a return to the first team when Celtic take on Falkirk in the CIS Cup on Tuesday night.

Strachan said: "They're both back in training but at different levels and they could return in midweek."

Irish bookmaker Paddy Power has offered to pay out on Celtic as SPL champions today if they beat Hearts and take a 13-point lead over the second-placed club with 25 games left to play.

But Strachan dismissed that and said: "It's a publicity stunt."

Meanwhile, Hibs star spotter John Park insisted he is happy at Easter Road but refused to rule out a move to Celtic.

Rangers have also targeted Park as head of youth development but the news Celtic have earmarked him for a key role at their £7million training complex when it opens at Lennoxtown in August could prove to be an irresistible lure.

Park said: "I see speculation all the time at this club. I'm just getting on with my job here and it is a job I'm happy doing."

Taken from the Daily Record