Craig is confident Berra still capable of playing key role in Gorgie recovery

CRAIG GORDON hopes his old team-mate Christophe Berra is given a chance to come in from the cold and help lead Hearts back to the Scottish Premiership.

Berra’s demise was one of the harder watches of a traumatic season in Gorgie. Wholly unsuited to the high-pressing style immediately installed by new manager Daniel Stendel last December, Berra played in defeats to St Johnstone and Celtic before being dropped after the 2-0 derby loss to Hibs on Boxing Day.

Told by Stendel during the winter shutdown that he was surplus to requirements, Berra opted to seek another club rather than train with the reserves and moved to Dundee on loan.

Although the allocated squad number of No 7 seemed an odd fit for a centre-back, Berra showed he still retained his old instincts and slotted in neatly at Dens Park.

During his six appearances for

James McPake’s team, Dundee conceded just a single goal.

With Hearts set to kick off in the same division, it would seem sensible that Neilson would elect to use his former team-mate in defence and goalkeeper Craig Gordon hopes a place can be found for the 35-year-old.

Gordon has returned to Tynecastle on a two-year deal following his release from Celtic and can empathise with his plight, having been demoted in favour of the on-loan Fraser Forster at Celtic last term.

He said: ‘I’ve spoken to Christophe and he has absolutely no regrets about what happened. These things can happen.

‘At Celtic, I went from thinking in pre-season that I would be a big part of the team to just making a handful of appearances.

‘You never can tell, regardless of who you are or what team you are at.

‘Things move on and managers make decisions, other players come in and these things are possible.

‘Christophe knows that and is quite philosophical about it. That’s football.’

Together, Gordon, Berra and incoming manager Robbie Neilson all lifted the Scottish Cup with

Hearts in 2006.

Gordon continued: ‘Christophe is just excited to get back training and give himself the best opportunity to play again. He is a great professional which is the reason he has been captain of this club.

‘So to have him in and around the place to be a leader, you want as many of those as you can get and it’s going to make for a very successful dressing room.’

With Hearts’ legal action against the SPFL vote to relegate the club after a shortened season live in the Court of Session through the week, the club held off on formally introducing Neilson to the media this week.

When he does speak, the issue of the club’s captaincy is likely to feature. Berra started last term with the armband before effectively being stripped of his status, with Stendel passing the responsibility on to Steven Naismith.

Gordon’s return may throw a fresh candidate into the mix.

‘Naisy has already texted me, so I think he wants to get hold of that,’ laughed the goalkeeper. ‘I’m just happy to be here and I’ll help out as much as I can, use my experience and help the younger guys.

‘If you get as many captain types, it’s going to be good. We have plenty of leaders and I think that is something that will hold the team in good stead.

‘You need that. Especially at this moment in time when things are a bit uncertain, it’s good to have so many experienced guys there to take control and guide everyone through it.

‘My last time at Hearts, we had that and it helped get us through the uncertainty and difficult times off the pitch.’