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Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers last night warned Chelsea they would be wasting their time trying to grab Craig Gordon .

The Premier League club are set to move for the Hoops No.1 if Asmir Begovic makes the switch to Bournemouth, however, Rodgers insisted his keeper is strictly not for sale.

The manager was speaking after Gordon kept a clean sheet in the win over St Johnstone as Celtic equalled the Lisbon Lions’ record start to the season.

Dedryck Boyata headed the winner as the Parkhead men made it 26 domestic games unbeaten since day one of the campaign – to equal Jock Stein’s side’s famous run in 1966-67.

Rodgers was thrilled with the victory and made it clear he sees Gordon going nowhere. He said: “It’s a credit to the way the players are performing there is speculation and people are talking about these clubs.

“But Craig is very much part of what I am doing here. He is 34, can go on for a number of years and be a real pillar of this team.

“Would Chelsea be wasting their time? Yes, of course. We don’t want to sell him. His contract is up at the end of the season but the club have the option of another year. Selling Craig’s not something we would even consider.“

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Gordon is one of three keepers Chelsea have put on their wishlist along with AC Milan’s Diego Lopez and Galatasaray’s Fernando Muslera.

Rodgers is looking to hold on to his top talent and was delighted his men could match the Lisbon Lions. He said: “If you had mentioned that six months ago, when we first came in, to the supporters or players they might not have believed it.

“It’s a huge honour, a huge testament to them and how well they’ve worked.

“It’s been 50 years and you think of all the great players and managers who have been at this club. It shows you how difficult it is to achieve that. For this group of players, at the very beginning of their journey, big congratulations to them.”

St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright hailed his side’s stubborn display but was seething they were denied a late penalty when Scott Brown appeared to shove Steven Anderson.

He said: “There are difficult decisions and easy ones to make and that’s an easy one.

“He has a clear view, it’s a push in the back and anywhere else on the park that’s a free-kick and it robbed us a chance to take something from the game.

"But the players should be proud. We’ve just come up short.”