Heroes help me get Slick

Cieran Slicker knows his career is in safe hands for club and country as he’s surrounded by role models.

The Scotland Under-21 keeper was in top form to stop a rampant Turkey running riot in Friday night’s Euro 2023 qualifier at Tynecastle.

Senior team No.1 Craig Gordon was among a clutch of top-team stars watching from the stands as the young Scots went down 2- 0.

Slicker, who trains with some of the world’s best keepers at Manchester City, admits the veteran Scots goalie is an inspiration at the age of 39.

Now he’s hoping the U21s can produce a miracle save of their own and resurrect their Euro 2023 qualifying hopes when they head to Kazakhstan on Tuesday.

Slicker said: “I didn’t know Craig was in the crowd. It’s always good to have support from those guys who have

SLICKER learning trade been through these stages.

“Craig is amazing – the career he’s had and he’s still going. He is a great role model to look up to.

“It’s kind of hard to take the positives (from the Turkey defeat). We weren’t good enough in all areas.

“When you’ve got a lot to do as a keeper it’s not great for the team. I was trying to do my bit but then others on the pitch have got to step up to do theirs, I suppose.

“We’ll try to settle down in Kazakhstan as quickly as we can and have a good performance on Tuesday.”

Slicker is on first-name terms with Ederson and Scott Carson at City.

He said: “I’ve been with the first-team quite a lot this year. It is great for me to learn when I’m there.

“The keepers are the main ones to learn from. Scott, Eddie (Ederson) and Zack Steffen are great for me.

“Even just being close to them I learn so much. It’s ridiculous watching them in training. If you are not switched on 100 per cent you are going to pay for it.”