Craig Gordon's future at Hearts discussed amid World Cup tilt as key factor for potential exit revealed

Gordon is currently the understudy at Hearts to Alexander Schwolow, who arrived during the summer on a free-transfer. The 33-year-old German has earned plaudits for his performances this season, with the Jam Tarts currently top of the Premiership.

Schwolow’s form has resulted in Gordon, who will turn 43 on New Year’s Eve, not playing a minute of club football this season. However, the latter featured for Scotland in their final two World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Denmark last month. following an injury to Angus Gunn. Gordon is now vying with the Nottingham Forest stopper to be national team boss Steve Clarke’s No 1 at next summer’s finals in the Americas.

Gordon may have a decision to make next month if he feels he cannot dislodge Schwolow at Hearts. The Tynecastle side also have another Scotland goalkeeper hopeful in Zander Clark, who is now third choice in Gorgie. The Scotsman understands that there are a handful of other teams in the Premiership monitoring both players’ situations.

However, Hearts chief executive Andrew McKinlay does not want to lose Gordon and said the only scenario that would see him leave is if the keeper himself made the request.

Asked about Gordon’s situation, McKinlay said: “That's obviously one for Craig and the manager. But what I would say is here and now, Craig ain't going anywhere because we've seen before what can happen between now and, you know, I hope it doesn't happen, but something might happen to Alex.

“Remember Craig's injury on Christmas Eve a few years ago [a broken leg against Dundee United]. So Craig's vital to us. Craig has not said anything about January, but I guess the point of the question is if he feels he's not going to get football, then he may want to do something. But we would be led by Craig on that. I'm sure he would have a discussion with the manager and we would look at what else we've got in place.

“Because I know Craig also wouldn't do anything to harm the club, but it'd be a fitting way - and I'm not announcing Craig's retirement by the way - but certainly from my perspective, it'd be a fitting way for him to end his career.

“You might tell me otherwise, you might tell me once another two years, that's fine, we can have that discussion! But that's just a personal view and I'm delighted for him. that, you know, because it looked like when he didn't get into the Euros squad [in 2024].

“I was at Hampden that night and actually I remember seeing him and his now wife and his kids down at the side of the pitch after everyone had gone and you could tell it was quite emotional because he thought that was his last cap. So it's a real fairy-tale and I’m delighted for him.”