Celtic praised & Saints urged to appoint Brown – Thursday’s Scottish gossip

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson wants the club’s academy to recruit from all over the world. (Herald – subscription), external

Jim Goodwin is eager to take Dundee United back to Hampden for the first time in eight years by winning Friday’s Scottish League Cup quarter-final against Motherwell at Fir Park. (Record), external

Winning a trophy with Dundee, who visit Rangers in Saturday’s Scottish League Cup quarter-final, would be a dream for defender Antonio Portales, 28. (Courier – subscription), external

Aberdeen cannot take Spartans lightly in Saturday’s League Cup quarter-final, says Nicky Devlin, 30. (Record), external

Hearts will travel directly to Aberdeen from Azerbaijan next month with Steven Naismith’s side taking on Conference League opponents Dinamo Minsk in Sumgait three days before their Scottish Premiership trip to Pittodrie. (Scotsman – subscription), external

Hibernian head coach David Gray is taking nothing for granted, despite the club’s owner Ian Gordon indicating he wants to avoid having so many different managers in charge over a short period of time. (Edinburgh Evening News – subscription), external

Ross County are awaiting news of 23-year-old defender George Harmon’s ankle injury before Saturday’s home Premiership meeting with St Johnstone. (Press and Journal – subscription), external

Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson, 25, will sign a new contract with Bologna this week, according to reports in Italy. (Herald – subscription), external