Craig Gordon gets injection to help Scotland cause as Hearts injury update issued

Tynecastle medical staff sent the 43-year-old to a specialist, who recommended an jag to aid Gordon’s recovery. He travelled to London on Thursday morning for the treatment in the hope it can accelerate his rehabilitation. With Hearts challenging for the Premiership title and Scotland prepare for a first World Cup in 28 years, Gordon is understandably keen to play his part for both club and country.

Gordon is unlikely to be fit for Scotland’s friendlies at the end of the month against Japan and Ivory Coast. He is battling with Angus Gunn for the gloves when the national team heads to the United States in June for the tournament.

“Big Craig Gordon has got a second opinion from a specialist,” confirmed Hearts head coach Derek McInnes on Thursday. “He’s down in London this morning getting an injection to try and alleviate things - and increase his ability to do rehab at a better level and a better rate.

“We’re still not sure time-wise with him, but getting that second opinion and the injection is positive and something that can help Craig. Hopefully he can progress a bit quicker as a consequence of that.”

Gordon is one of a number of Hearts players currently on the sidelines. Defender Oisin McEntee should be fit for Saturday’s game against Kilmarnock, but midfielder Cammy Devlin and striker Lawrence Shankland are a week away.

“Cammy and Lawrence have done brilliant to get to the stage they’re at, but they’re going to do full training next week,” added McInnes. “The plan is for them to be available for Dundee next week. Kingsley, [Calem] Nieuwenhof and [Finlay] Pollock potentially will be back in full training ahead of the Livingston game.

“On Stuart Findlay, he thinks maybe Livingston but he’s still got a lot of work to do. As it stands he’ll be ready for the Motherwell game, but potentially Livingston.