Scottish Gossip: Celtic eye Belgian while Collins row rumbles on

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara reckons John Collins' comments don't make sense because three ex-United players are in Celtic's first-team. The Hoops' assistant manager said players in Scotland are "not clever enough or quick enough thinkers" to punish his team when attacks falter, but McNamara thinks that doesn't add up given Stuart Armstrong, Gary Mackay-Steven and Nadir Ciftci play regularly for Celtic. (Various)

Full-back Stevie Smith believes Kilmarnock will have extra motivation against Celtic on Wednesday because of Collins' comments. (Various)

Celtic have renewed their interest in Club Brugge central defender Brandon Mechele, who is valued at around £3m. The Parkhead side first expressed an interest in the 22-year-old Belgian in April. (Various)

Another player interesting Celtic is 17-year-old IK Start playmaker Kristoffer Ajer. (Sun)

Meanwhile Celtic boss Ronny Deila has revealed he opted against becoming manager of Malmo in 2014, shortly before he took the role in Glasgow. The Swedish side stand between Celtic and the Champions League group stage. (Daily Express)

Malmo will bring around 1000 supporters - their biggest European away following ever - to the Celtic Park leg of the tie. (Various)

Aberdeen winger Graeme Shinnie intends to increase his goal tally from an average of three a season after opening his account for the Pittodrie side versus Kilmarnock last weekend. (Daily Express)

Hamilton Accies right-back Ziggy Gordon is glad people are tipping the New Douglas Park team for relegation, because it just makes him want to prove them wrong by staying up. (Daily Express)

Midfielder Iain Vigurs could seal a return to Inverness if manager John Hughes can extract extra funds from the Highland club's board. (Various)

Rangers forward Dean Shiels has set himself a double target for this season - getting the Ibrox club promoted to the Premiership and helping Northern Ireland qualify for Euro 2016. (Daily Record)

Meanwhile striker Jon Daly, who is training with Dundee United after departing from Rangers in the summer, wishes he had left Ibrox sooner in order to get more games under his belt. (Sun)

Ross County defender Scott Boyd is on the brink of breaking the Dingwall side's appearance record - he'll reach 288 if he features against St Johnstone on Tuesday. (Daily Record)

Hull City boss Steve Bruce plans to make a new bid for Scotland forward Shaun Maloney after Chicago Fire rejected the Championship side's opening offer. (Daily Record)

Former Kilmarnock and Hibernian striker Paul Heffernan is likely to sign for Queen of the South. (Daily Record)

Rangers' two women's sides have drawn each other in the SWF Scottish Cup quarter-finals. The main Rangers women's team are fifth in the Scottish Women's Premier League, with the other side is two divisions down in the Scottish Women's Football League. (Herald)

In tennis, Andy Murray will face his brother Jamie for the first time in a tour event when they go head-to-head in the doubles at the Rogers Cup in Montreal on Wednesday. (Daily Mail)