GORDON: SCOTLAND CAREER NOT OVER
Craig wants a call-up in the Championship with Jambos
CRAIG GORDON is targeting a Scotland squad return as a Championship keeper and hopes to break a Hearts club record into the bargain.
The Jambos shot-stopper is preparing for his first season outside the top flight as Robbie Neilson’s team get themselves into shape for a tilt at the second-tier title, which many expect them to win without too much trouble.
But despite not playing at the highest level domestically, Gordon still sees a place for himself in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad, with a vital Euro 2021 qualifying play-off against Israel on the horizon, as well as a new UEFA Nations League campaign.
Gordon’s chances are good. Rangers No.1 Allan McGregor is now retired from international duty while Scott Bain is second choice at Celtic after the £5million signing of Greek Vasilis Barkas.
Rangers’ summer signing Jon McLaughlin finds himself in a similar position to Bain and David Marshall is yet to find himself a new club following Wigan’s relegation.
But aside from the pride of representing his country Gordon has a secondary motive in mind, namely becoming the player to win most caps playing for Hearts.
Former team-mate Steven Pressley holds the honour, pulling on the dark blue 32 times while plying his domestic trade at Tynecastle.
Gordon has 54 Scotland appearances to his name but only 23 of those came while he was a Hearts player.
But even at 37, he believes he can surpass Elvis if he does the business in the Championship.
“I still think I can get back to the Scotland set-up,” he said. “How many caps does the most capped Scotland player while they were at Hearts have?
“I’ve got a few more to catch up but that’s got to be an aim. I think it’s Elvis who is around about the 30 mark and I think I’ve got 20-odd from my first spell, so he’s in my sights now.
“I want to get back there, play some games and try to catch him.”
As well as adding to his cap collection Gordon is also at
Hearts to help develop his eventual replacement, which many believe will be the highly-rated Harry Stone.
The teenager was linked with moves to Liverpool and Celtic before becoming a full-time pro with Hearts, and has also postponed studying for a career in medicine to make his way in the game.
And Gordon will do everything in his power to help the fellow Balerno boy take on the mantle of Hearts’ No.1 in the future.
“I have already spoken to young Harry,” he told the Scarves Around the Funnell podcast. “He’s got my phone number if he needs anything. I know he’s struggling for fitness a bit at the moment but he’ll be back in the next month or so, and I’m really looking forward to helping him try to become the new Hearts No.1.
“There’s every chance he’s the smartest player at the club but he probably doesn’t have that much competition to be honest!
“Having spoken to him on a couple of occasions now, he comes across that way and it’s great to have that level of back-up.
“Hopefully he can keep studying over the next few years and still be able to qualify. “When I was at Sunderland, Simon Mignolet did a politics degree. He managed to do that while coming through and becoming a top-level professional goalkeeper. “There aren’t many guys in football who are smart enough to do it so he might as well.” Meanwhile, boss Neilson has reunited with his old Dundee United assistants after Hearts confirmed the appointments of Lee McCulloch and Gordon Forest.