Hearts super star backed to make Scotland Euro 2024 squad after Hearts injury return, backed to make Scotland Euro 2024 squad after Hearts injury return

Gordon turns 41 on New Year’s Eve but Naismith says he can still make the cut for next year’s finals in Germany

Craig Gordon may wriggle back into Scotland’s preparations for Euro 2024, according to Steven Naismith.

The goaltender for the Hearts has miraculously recovered from the terrifying double leg he sustained on Christmas Eve. There were legitimate concerns that Gordon’s career might have come to an end at forty. However, Gordon battled back and made his comeback, just as he has done throughout his playing career, when he participated for 45 minutes last Thursday in a bounce game versus the Spartans.

Craig Gordon may wriggle back into Scotland’s preparations for Euro 2024, according to Steven Naismith.

The goaltender for the Hearts has miraculously recovered from the terrifying double leg he sustained on Christmas Eve. There were legitimate concerns that Gordon’s career might have come to an end at forty. However, Gordon battled back and made his comeback, just as he has done throughout his playing career, when he participated for 45 minutes last Thursday in a bounce game versus the Spartans.

“I think so, yeah,” Naismith responded when asked if Gordon had a chance of being included by Steve Clarke. I think so, too. It’s evident that Craig played a few minutes in our game, which is fantastic. He therefore has to get some time to hone that final portion because he is in that zone. It’s great that he is now training consistently.

“Now he’s at the stage of getting minutes. We need to get games for him to play in and build his minutes up, and then that gives him a good opportunity.

“He’s played 45 minutes and he will need to build that up to 90. Then can he go consistently 90 minutes, then 90 minutes again a week later then maybe even manage a midweek game as well.

“That final phase remains, and whatever time it takes him to complete it, that’s how it will happen. However, it’s beneficial that he’s on the field since some of the new boys can see his qualities as some of them haven’t trained with him. That earns him respect from those men.”