Scottish Gossip: Roberts, Celtic, Rodgers, McGinn, Tavernier

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Winger Patrick Roberts has overcome a hamstring problem and joined his Celtic team-mates on their flight to Israel for the second leg of their Champions League playoff round tie against Hapoel Beer Sheva. (Daily Express)

Beer Sheva manager Barak Bakhar admits his team "need a miracle" to overcome the 5-2 deficit from the first leg, but warns Celtic that miracles do happen. (Various)

Assistant Celtic manager Chris Davies insists that he and boss Brendan Rodgers chose to play their strongest team in the 4-2 win over St Johnstone on Saturday in an effort to keep up the winning mentality ahead of their Champions League qualifier on Tuesday. (National)

Rodgers predicts that the transfer market will "explode" for Celtic should they get past their Israeli opponents to reach the group stage. (Scotsman)

However, Rodgers points out that he is not in the market for "a marquee signing that can't run". (Various)

Celtic flew out to Israel on Sunday for their return leg against Hapoel Beer Sheva

Rodgers says Celtic are trying to get through to the group stage for the whole of Scotland, not just his own club. (Sun)

The private jet hired by Celtic for their trip to Israel was once used by Madonna on her Rebel Heart tour of New Zealand. (Herald)

St Johnstone midfielder Murray Davidson believes Celtic will be too strong for anyone to catch them in the league this season. (Herald)

Attacking right-back James Tavernier describes the noise around Ibrox when Kenny Miller scored the winner against Motherwell on Saturday as "absolutely terrific". (Daily Express)

A 2-1 win for Rangers over the Steelmen put the Light Blues at the summit of the top tier for the first time since December 2011. (Daily Mail)

Northern Ireland winger Niall McGinn is expected to follow Adam Rooney in signing a new contract at Aberdeen. (Daily Express, Sun)

Referee Willie Collum claims there are people who want him to fail even before he blows his whistle to start a match. (Sun)

Referee Willie Collum believes there are people who are keen to see him fail

Dundee midfielder Mark O'Hara thanks manager Paul Hartley for resurrecting his career after being axed by Kilmarnock. The 20-year-old has scored twice for the Dark Blues this season and is well on his way to meeting Hartley's 10-goal target. (Sun)

New Hearts striker Bjorn Johnsen says the frustration he felt awaiting Fifa clearance to leave CSKA Sofia for Tynecastle was less than what he endured when his previous club Atletico CP would not allow him to move to fellow Portuguese club Benfica. (Daily Express)

Werder Bremen's interest in Emilio Izaguirre has cooled now that Celtic have placed a £1m price tag on the Honduran left-back. (Daily Record)

Rangers winger Harry Forrester describes new Ibrox signing Joe Garner as a "livewire" and a "fox-in-the-box" type of player. (Various)

Stephen Robinson worked under Ian Baraclough when the latter was Motherwell manager but, in a reversal of roles, Robinson has now brought in Baraclough as his assistant at Oldham. (Sun)

OTHER GOSSIP

Grant Ferguson has risen through the ranks at Scottish and British Cycling and made his Olympic debut at the weekend

Gregor Townsend says his targets for his last season in charge of Glasgow Warriors are to reach the Pro12 playoffs and the knockout stages in Europe. (Scotsman)

Peebles rider Grant Ferguson finished 17th in the mountain bike race in Rio, but the 22-year-old Olympic debutant said the downpours had meant it was "carnage" out on the X-Park course. (Herald)

Kilbarchan's Callum Hawkins is "quite pleased" to have led the marathon for a while at the Rio Olympics but admits he did not burn off as many opponents as he had hoped, as he finished ninth. His brother Derek was 114th in the race. (Herald)

Eilidh Doyle feels that she now "belongs" at Olympic level after becoming the first Scot in 28 years to win an Olympic track and field medal as she helped Great Britain's women's 4x400m relay team to a bronze. (Daily Mail)