Thursday's Scottish gossip

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Canada could attempt to persuade Scott Arfield to play for them after the Burnley midfielder was again left out of the Scotland squad, along with team-mate George Boyd, while players from lower levels in England were preferred by manager Gordon Strachan. (The Sun, print edition)

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill plans to watch 26-year-old Aberdeen striker Adam Rooney, who has already played for their under-21s, with a view to call-up to the full squad. (Daily Express)

Celtic manager Ronny Deila has accused Ryan McGowan of a tackle on Liam Henderson that could have ended the midfielder's career as the Dundee United defender was sent off in the Tannadice side's 4-0 Scottish Cup defeat. (Daily Record)

A Uefa disciplinary hearing will decide today whether to take against Celtic after alleged misbehaviour of their fans during last month's Europa League tie against Inter Milan in Itlay. (Daily Record, print edition)

Scott Arfield (right) has missed out for Scotland despite playing in England's top flight

Former Newcastle United, Cardiff City, Sunderland and Ipswich Town striker Michael Chopra has revealed that his desire to finally claim the first winners' medal of his career helped persuade him to make his surprise move to Alloa Athletic, who are in the Petrofac Training Cup final. (The Scotsman)

Former English top-flight striker Michael Chopra believes that joining Alloa Athletic can help him save both the club from relegation and his own career. (The Herald)

Former Scotland striker Paul Gallagher has become the first player to make 100 loan appearances for one club in English football, the 30-year-old being in his third spell with League One outfit Preston North End from Leicester City. (Daily Record, print edition)

Rangers have hired Gardner Speirs and Malky Thomson as youth coaches as part of a restructuring of the club's academy staff - appointments made before the takeover by Dave King's consortium - while new youth chief Craig Mulholland has also drafted in former Hearts striker Andy Kirk. (The Scotsman)

Charlie Millar believes that former Rangers team-mate Stuart McCall is facing the biggest fight of his life to rekindle Rangers' promotion challenge in the Scottish Championship. (Daily Record, print edition)

Motherwell captain Keith Lasley thinks the Fir Park club are facing their biggest crisis since going into administration in 2002 as they battle to free themselves from relegation trouble in the Scottish Premiership. (Daily Record, print edition)

Paul Gallagher has created a new record for loan appearances in England

Partick Thistle goalkeeper Scott Fox has warned the club that he is considering other options at the end of the season while realising that the Firhill outfit do not want to discuss a new contract until they know they are clear of relegation trouble. (Daily Record)

Dundee manager Paul Hartley will not offer goalkeeper Scott Bain a new contract until he knows if the Dens Park club have clinched a place in the Scottish Premiership's top six. (Daily Record)

Hearts defender Kevin McHattie admits he is uncomfortable with the prospect of following head coach Robbie Neilson's lead by cheering on fierce rivals Hibernian on Sunday afternoon because it would increase the hopes of the Tynecastle side being able to secure the title in front of their own fans against Queen of the South. (The Herald)

OTHER GOSSIP

Six Nations rivals Joe Schmidt, the Ireland coach, and Vern Cotter, the Scotland head coach, are already plotting behind the scenes to pull off their "ultimate goal" of forming a New Zealand coaching dream team, according to former All Blacks number eight Paul Tupai. (The Scotsman)

Scotland head coach Vern Cotter will be tempted to throw a couple of new faces into the starting line-up against Ireland, with Glasgow Warriors pair Adam Ashe and Ryan Grant being given starts at Murrayfield. (The Scotsman)

US tycoon Donald Trump has submitted multi-million pound plans to further develop his Aberdeenshire golf resort - including a second course, plus a massive ballroom and banquet hall - in a move that comes two years after he threatened to stop any further investment in the site because of proposals for an offshore windfarm of Aberdeen Bay. (The Scotsman)

Alastair Forsyth has returned to compete in the Madeira Islands Open a year after enduring the darkest chapter of his golfing career when his caddie, Iain McGregor, collapsed and died on the course. (The Herald)