Craig Gordon facing Hearts wait as Steven Naismith tells him No 1 spot IS Zander Clark's to lose for now
Gordon returned to the Jambos squad for the first time since last Christmas as they lost 1-0 at home to Rangers.
Steven Naismith insists the Hearts No 1 jersey is Zander Clark's for now despite Craig Gordon returning from injury.
Gordon was named as a sub for Wednesday night's 1-0 home defeat to Rangers - the first time the Sotland keeper has been involved since suffering a horror leg break away to Dundee United last Christmas Eve. His injury accelerated Clark's ascent to Tynecastle No 1, having arrived as backup to Gordon the previous summer after leaving St Johnstone.
Michael McGovern has provided competition this season, but with Gordon back Clark has a much more credible threat to his place in the starting XI. Fans are champing at the bit to see boyhood Jambo Gordon don the gloves again, but Naismith has stressed the keeper is only just starting the next stage of his recovery, which for now is sitting on the bench and will be until Clark presents him with an opportunity, either via injury or loss of form.
"It's different because it's a goalie," he said. "You look at the player who has been playing and has the jersey and last night, Zander had some fantastic saves which kept us in the game.
"He's been really good this season. I think he's been consistent so at this moment in time I think he's the right guy to be playing in goals.
"Craigy is coming back and this next stage in being involved in the squads. But if there's a time, whenever that may be, we'll wait and see but at the moment, Zander's the guy that's playing.
"He's consistently performed at a good level. With any goalie, when they make a mistake, it's jumped upon. When we have some great goalies here, you like to emphasise that at any point. But Zander's been a consistent performer for me.
"He's come here in a strange circumstances for someone in his position. He's won a double with St Johnstone, not had a club for a while then come in here as a No 2, at a stage when he's at the stage of his career where he's experienced.
"Craig gets injured so he has to get up to speed quickly and continually perform. In that period, he's made his Scotland debut and gone on to win more caps. He's in a much better position now than he was. a year ago."