Craig Gordon could be just TWO games away from a Euro 2024 spot, explains Scotland boss Steve Clarke
CRAIG GORDON could be just two games away from the Euros.
The 74-cap keeper has only played three times for Hearts in the Scottish Cup since returning from his double leg-break.
But Steve Clarke has admitted the Gorgie star DOESN’T need to regain his No 1 spot at Tynecastle to get to Germany.
The Scotland boss watched Gordon on Monday night as the Jambos reached the semi-finals by knocking out Morton.
Within 14 hours, he’d named him in the squad for next week’s friendlies with the Netherlands and Northern Ireland.
And he confirmed even if Gordon doesn’t play in the Premiership between now and the end of the season — and only plays in the Cup — the 41-year-old could still make Germany.
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Clarke said: “It’s possible. I have to take a lot of different factors into consideration.
"It would be a bit easier for selection if he was Hearts No 1 but I wouldn’t say if he only plays two more Cup games, I wouldn’t select him.”
Gordon has made it clear he’s desperate to be on the plane.
But club-mate Zander Clark is ahead of him at Tynecastle, with Motherwell’s Liam Kelly also backing up first-choice keeper Angus Gunn with Scotland.
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Asked to talk through his decision-making process, Clarke said: “Three of them will go. That’s me talked it through!
“There’s every chance you get a goalkeeping injury so it’s nice to have the four.
“I’m saying of the four that three will go to the Euros, but maybe two get injured.
“Then I need to find another goalkeeper to come in. Young Robby McCrorie at Rangers has been my go-to for bringing in if I need an extra goalkeeper.
“Those are the five and I am thinking three of them will go to the Euros.
“It’s a chance for me to see Craig working up close and working with the other goalkeepers in the group.
“He’s played three games since coming back but, without being disrespectful to the opposition, it’s Spartans, Airdrie and Morton.
“Craig hasn’t been overworked in the games so it will be nice for the goalkeeper coach Chris Woods and myself to see him up close and personal.
“It’s nice to have Angus back in the group as well.
“It will come down to me as to whether I think Craig is right or not right to go.
“What I would say is don’t discount Zander, as he’s keeping him out the Hearts team.
“That tells you how good Zander has been to keep a keeper of Craig’s stature out of the team. It will be an interesting choice.”
The one thing Gordon has in his favour is his vast amount of experience.
Clarke said: “His performances for me as the head coach would have some bearing on it.
“But you have to be fit and well, pretty much like goal- keepers who are playing all the time as they get into a rhythm.”
Clarke was there to see Gordon make a vital save at Cappielow to show his class.
He said: “The one with his foot would be a save that would have kept the game in Hearts’ favour at that time.
“If Morton scored then, it could have been a different story.
“But it would be a save I think Craig would expect to make.
“It was nice to see him on the pitch after such a horrendous injury. Nice to see him back, stripped and looking good.
"Mentally and physically he is in great shape.
“He’s a strong-willed person, very strong mentally to come back from such a significant injury at that stage in his career.
“He’s done great to get back and let’s see how it goes.”
Clarke also travelled to Scotland this week for a pre-Euros medical.
But it’s the fitness of his players he’s anxious about.
He said: “I was up because I had to do a health check before I go to the Euros, in case they find anything wrong before I go.
“I also had to do a bit of media work yesterday so the fact the game was on was ideal, just to go down to Cappielow and see if anything about the place had changed. It hadn’t changed.
“I’m still waiting on the results of my health check but I did all right — I didn’t fall off the treadmill.
“In terms of picking my squad, it’s not weighing heavy on me in March. But it will at the start of May when I have to go and make those decisions and have those conversations.
“As I’ve said before, that’s the job. That’s what I’m paid to do and that’s what I’ll do.”
Asked if he’s sitting by the phone worrying about injuries, he added: “This weekend coming up is the worst.
“I just sit slumped with my head in my hands, thinking, ‘Don’t get injured, don’t get injured’. It’s the worst.
“I could have boosted the squad with one or two of the younger ones. But I think the Under-21s should stick together and try and qualify out of their section.
“Rather than calling some of them up to train with us, it’s better that they go with Scot Gemmill and play.
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“If I lose another couple of players then I may need to dip down to Scot’s squad and take one or two of the younger ones. But hopefully I won’t have to.”
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