Gordon would have saved Hearts from drop – Walker

Hearts would not have been relegated last season if the team had Craig Gordon between the sticks, according to Jamie Walker.

A year ago on Thursday, the Tynecastle side played their last game in front of supporters, losing 1-0 to St Mirren which consigned the side to the bottom of the Premiership prior to lockdown.

Throughout the 2019-20 campaign, Hearts had a goalkeeper issue with Joel Pereira, Zdenek Zlamal and Colin Doyle all struggling to hold down the position.

Gordon was linked with the club in the January transfer window before his summer return to Tynecastle.

For Walker, it is obvious the difference he would have been able to make.

“If we had Craig last season, we wouldn’t have got relegated,” he told The Edinburgh Football Show. “The saves he makes are exceptional and, for me, he’s the best keeper in Scotland.”

Despite Hearts' dominance of the Championship, Gordon has arguably been the club's player of the season, due to the number of top-class saves he has produced.

Walker said: “He makes saves at vital moments in the game, like in the semi-final against Hibs and in lots of league games this season – I think he’s won us about 10 or 12 points on his own this season.

“It’s weird, because I knew he was a really good keeper from watching him play for Hearts many a time as a boy growing up, but to see him up close in training and in games, he’s incredible. He’s much better than I thought he was. Sometimes I can’t understand how he keeps the ball out.”

Runaway Championship leaders Hearts host Ayr United this afternoon and, if they are selected, Liam Boyce is looking forward to linking up with Armand Gnanduillet again.

Boyce is the division’s top goalscorer on 11 and has rippled netting 14 times in 27 games for club and country so far this season.

Gnanduillet is a January signing who is nearing full fitness, but the giant Frenchman’s movement and intelligence are already dovetailing with Boyce’s craft.

The Northern Irishman feels more comfortable as part of a two-man attack, such as last weekend when he and Gnanduillet stood out in the 2-1 win against Dundee.

“It was good playing beside Armand in a two up front. Any time I am away with Northern Ireland, and at Ross County, I have played in a two,” said Boyce. “It's good to have the options of playing one or two and Armand is a big presence. You saw at the first goal against Dundee, he is composed on the ball too and put in a good delivery [for Andy Halliday’s header].

“I enjoyed playing in a partnership with him and it means I only need to run one channel, not two. I like playing with a partner and it doesn't happen in football much now.

“We have been working together on some partnership things, like where we should be in the shape, but Saturday is the most important time for a partnership to develop.”

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