Scottish Gossip: Celtic, Rangers, Hibernian, Dundee United, Kilmarnock, Hamilton, Livingston

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Celtic manager Ronny Deila could give a surprise start to fit-again captain Scott Brown against Ross County in their League Cup semi-final despite the midfielder having been sidelined for two months with a knee injury. (Mail On Sunday, print edition)

Celtic manager Ronny Deila has expressed his concerns about the state of the Hampden Park pitch ahead of today's League Cup semi-final against Ross County, believing it ought to be "perfect" for such an occasion. (Sunday Herald)

Midfielder John McGinn, who scored the winner against St Johnstone to secure Hibernian a place in the League Cup final, hopes Ross County can join them at Hampden so that on-loan Celtic pair Liam Henderson and Anthony Stokes are not forced to sit out the big game. (Sunday Express, print edition)

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright has branded Hibernian midfielder Liam Henderson a diver after the on-loan Celtic midfielder won a penalty in the Edinburgh side's 2-1 win in the League Cup semi-final. (Sun On Sunday, print edition)

Manchester City winger Patrick Roberts has arrived at Celtic Park to complete the 18-year-old's 18-month loan move from Manchester City. (Sunday Mail)

Glasgow-born Republic of Ireland winger Aiden McGeady is poised to join Sheffield Wednesday on loan after making only one appearance for Everton this season. (Liverpool Echo)

Norwich City defender Steven Whittaker is being linked with Reading

Scotland right-back Steven Whittaker is being chased by Reading after finding himself on the sidelines with Norwich City. (Sunday Mail, print edition)

Scotland striker Jordan Rhodes is likely to complete his move to Middlesbrough today after Blackburn Rovers accepted an £11m offer. (Sunday Mail, print edition)

Manager Paul Lambert says Jordan Rhodes has been a "phenomenon" for Blackburn Rovers but believes it is the right time to cash in on the Middlesbrough-bound Scotland striker. (Gazette Live)

Blackburn Rovers manager Paul Lambert praised Tony Watt for his goal in their FA Cup win over Oxford United, the former Celtic striker having replaced Jordan Rhodes, their fellow Scot who was having his medical ahead of transfer to Middlesbrough. (Sun On Sunday, print edition)

West Brom are hoping to sign 24-year-old Queens Park Rangers and Scotland winger Matt Phillips, who is a long-time target, in an £8m deal. (Daily Star on Sunday)

Dundee United still own 20% of Ryan Gauld despite the Scotland Under-21 midfielder's transfer to Sporting Lisbon in 2014. (Sunday Mail, print edition)

Kilmarnock caretaker manager Lee McCulloch, who was signed as player-manager, says his playing career is over, with the 37-year-old giving young players a chance to play instead of himself in their development side. (Sun On Sunday, print edition)

Lee McCulloch, who has taken over as Kilmarnock caretaker manager, says a vicious smear campaign wrecked his final season as a Rangers player, admitting ahead of next weekend's Scottish Cup meeting with his former club that he was badly affected by rumours on social media about his allegedly exorbitant salary. (Scotland On Sunday)

Coventry City midfielder John Fleck says he was branded a money-grabber by some Rangers fans when he moved to the English club in 2012 but insists he took a pay cut to leave Ibrox. (Sun On Sunday, print edition)

Blackburn Rovers striker Jordan Rhodes is expected to sign for Middlesbrough

Livingston have launched an investigation into claims that captain Darren Cole, the former Rangers defender, was racially abused by their own fans during their 1-0 defeat by Dumbarton. (Sun On Sunday, print edition)

Rangers manager Mark Warburton believes that a controversial red card for midfielder Andy Halliday, the ticket allocation row for the Scottish League Cup semi-final between Hibernian and St Johnstone and the mix-up over a venue for Celtic's Scottish Cup tie with East Kilbride has done nothing to help bring in the vital investment he believes is needed to grow the game. (Sunday Herald)

Striker Christian Nade is poised to leave Hamilton Accies and join Championship club Dumbarton after only making five starts this season. (Sun On Sunday, print edition)

On-loan Norwich City striker Carlton Morris will insist that it was his goal that defeated Kilmarnock 1-0 despite his headed effort appearing to deflect off defender Conrad Balatoni. (Sun On Sunday, print edition)

OTHER GOSSIP

UK Anti-Doping chief executive Nicole Sapstead has conceded that football and rugby in Scotland are tainted by the undetected use of performance enhancing substances. (Sunday Herald)

Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend has defended his decision to name Ryan Wilson as captain against Ospreys in his first appearance since being cleared of violent conduct during a defeat by Northampton Saints. (Sunday Express, print edition)

Two-time world darts champion Gary Anderson has ditched a holiday in Barbados for hard work as he prepares for the Unibet Masters. (Sunday Mail)