Craig Gordon: Top English clubs are watching Armstrong now

Craig Gordon believes that Stuart Armstrong's eye-catching Scotland debut will have sparked significant interest from English Premier League clubs in the midfielder, who has just over a year of his contract remaining at Celtic.

Stuart Armstrong made a dream debut for Scotland in the 1-0 win over Slovenia.

Armstrong carried his club form on to the international stage on Sunday night when he shone in Scotland’s crucial 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Slovenia at 
Hampden.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, pictured, is keen to secure the 24-year-old on a new contract with the Scottish champions and negotiations are understood to be ongoing. Goalkeeper Gordon
hopes to retain Armstrong as a team-mate with both club and country for the foreseeable future but has no doubts the former Dundee United man is capable of performing in the top flight of English football.

“Stuart could play at 
Premier League level,” said Gordon. “He is turning into a big player and he is doing it in big games now.

“That’s sometimes what you look for from players, to see how they do in the bigger games. He is contributing, scoring in games against Rangers for Celtic and now creating an important goal for Scotland

“Even the one against Slovenia which Leigh Griffiths hit against the post, after I’ve thrown the ball out to Stuart, he ran 50 yards with the ball, showing great pace and strength to get past a couple of defenders. When he got there, he had the composure to pick Leigh out in the box.

“He’s got everything, really, and is playing with so much confidence at the moment. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were some really big teams looking at him.”

Gordon paid tribute to the manner in which 
Armstrong has turned his fortunes around at Celtic where he struggled to make a positive impact last season.

“He is playing fantastically well for us now,” added 
Gordon.

“He wasn’t in the team at the start of the season but went away and worked really hard, got himself in the team and is now playing probably the best football he has ever played. To go into a Scotland team and play like he did on Sunday, I thought he was outstanding.

“The energy he brought into the midfield, he just ran his opposite number into the ground. Slovenia couldn’t deal with him. To have that amount of energy in your engine room, with the quality he possesses as well, is great.

“He scores goals and makes goals. He is a real asset for any team to have.”