Craig Gordon reflects on his remarkable 18-month turnaround with Scotland

It is nearly 18 months since the goalkeeper walked off the Hampden pitch believing his Scotland career was over after a ceremonial substitute appearance for the final stages of a 2-2 friendly draw with Finland.

Just as he did in battling back from serious injury, not once but twice, Gordon defied assumptions that he had been put to pasture by reclaiming his Scotland starting place before last year was out following an injury to Angus Gunn.

The prospect of retirement was raised again this summer but the 42-year-old - on the advice of Steve Clarke who told him "give it one more year, I might need you" - decided to commit to another year with Hearts. And lo and behold, another injury setback for Gunn saw Gordon, only recently back fit himself after an arm injury, recalled to the starting line-up once again for the crucial World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Denmark.

Despite having played zero club minutes with Hearts this season, he stood up to the task, making vital saves in both matches, as Scotland booked their ticket to USA, Canada and Mexico next summer.

Gordon, who now has 83 caps, is now desperate to secure his seat on the plane for what will potentially be a much more fitting send-off for a modern-day Scotland great.

"It's something I've always wanted to do," Gordon said. "I’ve managed to do a lot in my career. I’ve played in all the European competitions but never been at a World Cup, and in Scotland it hasn't been for so long.

"It’s incredible. I'm a bit lost for words because I've tried so hard for so long to finally get there. I just need to make sure that I'm fit and doing as well as I possibly can to try and stay in the team or stay in the squad because everybody's desperate to go there and everybody will be desperate to play."

If selected for next summer's tournament, Gordon could eclipse Northern Ireland legend Pat Jennings, who faced Brazil on his 41st birthday in 1986, as the oldest European to play at the World Cup. The overall record is held by Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, who was 45 when he played at the 2018 tournament.

"I’ve come back time and time again, got up and given it another go," Gordon added as he reflected on Tuesday's 4-2 win over Denmark. In 20-odd years, I've been coming back here looking to try and qualify for a World Cup. It's going to take a while to sink in.

"I don't think anybody could have dreamed up to do it in a better way with the quality of goals that we scored. It’s just an unbelievable feeling to be out there at the end, to be walking around to see that noise, that feeling, the emotion that was in that stadium. Those moments you'll never forget. We've got a long time now to look forward and to try and do as well as we possibly can out in the USA."