<!–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)
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)
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)
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)
OTHER GOSSIP
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)
