CELTIC No.1 Craig Gordon today thanked RANGERS for helping him become a star in green and white.

The shotstopper spent much of last season at Murray Park as he battled back from a knee injury which threatened his career.

An offer from Ally McCoist of a contract for the ex-Sunderland man never materialised and he went on to pen a two-year deal with the Hoops during the summer.

It was a move to Parkhead which seemed a million miles away for Gordon two years ago as his career was in danger of being over, but the Scotland international has admitted he will be forever in the debt of Celtic's arch-rivals for getting him in good enough shape to be a hit for Ronny Deila.

He said: "I was there most of last season working with their physios and doctors and trying to get myself to a level of fitness where I could compete again and go back out and play. Thankfully, towards the end of the season I managed to do that and then it was a case of trying to get myself a job.

"Would I have signed for them? Who knows? Until it was presented to me I don't know what I would have done.

"The move came through Jim Stewart, who was my goalkeeping coach when I was 15 and signed my first contract at Hearts.

"Jim worked very hard to get me my first contract and we worked together at Scotland and at Hearts. We had that friendship and he wanted to try and help me get back to fitness.

"Their help was invaluable. Without the physio Steve Walker, I might not be where I am right now.

"They did help, undoubtedly, to get to this point. Now, being at the opposing club, it makes that a little bit more difficult, but I'll be forever grateful for the help he did provide."

Gordon could have the opportunity to come up against the men who helped put him on the road to recovery in a League Cup semi-final.

Both Old Firm clubs are in the hat, along with Aberdeen and Dundee United for tonight's draw.

But while Gordon admits it's a fixture he looks to experience at some point, he is refusing to get excited about the prospect until it becomes a reality.

He said: "I don't care who we get. I want to try and win the cup. An Old Firm match is a great talking point, but we've got our job to do today against Inverness.

"It's a fixture I'd like to experience at some point in my career and, when it comes along, great.

"If it is Rangers, then I'll be facing players I trained with and I'll take it as it comes.

"But no matter who we draw it will be a difficult game with such a strong semi-final line-up."