By Chris McLaughlin

Riordan scored Hibs' goal in Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Rangers

Lokomotiv Moscow and Burnley have made enquiries about the availability of Hibernian forward Derek Riordan.

The 26-year-old has scored 11 goals for the Easter Road side this season after moving back to the Edinburgh outfit from Celtic last summer.

He has already been linked with both clubs in the past.

Championship outfit Burnley, who play in the promotion play-off final against Sheffield United, failed in a £400,000 bid for Riordan in 2007.

And Lokomotiv had a bid accepted for the player in 2006 during his first stint with Hibs, but he rejected the move as he did not wish to move overseas and team-mate Garry O'Connor made the switch to Russia alone.

Kaiserslautern, Cardiff City and Rangers all made offers during that time for the forward, who has been capped once for Scotland.

But he eventually joined Celtic in January 2006 for a cut-price £170,000, with Hibs anxious not to lose him for nothing when his contract was due to finish that summer.

Riordan failed to become a first-team regular with the Scottish champions and publicly aired his disappointment at not being given more opportunities by Celtic manager Gordon Strachan.

It was during that troubled time that Burnley made their initial approach, but he eventually returned to Easter Road on the final day of last summer's transfer window.

Hibs manager Mixu Paatelainen told BBC Scotland that he was unaware of any interest in Riordan.

"I must be honest, that is the first time I have heard about that," said the Finn. "I don't read fans' websites or gossip columns or anything like that."

Off-field behaviour has at times seen the forward hit the news pages, but Riordan was again on the back pages on Wednesday, when his fine opening goal prevented Rangers returning to the top of the Scottish Premier League table after a 1-1 draw.

And Riordan has promised he will be going out to similarly thwart his former club, who visit Easter Road on Sunday and presently lead Rangers on goal difference.

"Celtic and Rangers are battling for the league, so obviously there is more pressure on them than us," he told Hibs' website.

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"But it doesn't interest me about other clubs - I'm happy as long as I'm playing well and scoring goals for my team.

"It doesn't make a difference to Hibernian if Celtic win the league or not. We will be going out to win the game on Sunday."

Riordan believes his partnership with Steven Fletcher can be the undoing of Celtic on Sunday after the pair combined for his goal against Rangers.

"Steven and I have a great understanding up front," he said.

"In terms of movement and passing, I read his game well and he reads mine well.

"Obviously, I played with Garry O'Connor in the past and I think our partnership is up there with that one.

"I really enjoy playing alongside Fletch."

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