'Internationals will be beyond him' - Scotland boss Steve Clarke dealt major injury blow
Problem position weakened further as veteran ruled out of March friendlies
Hearts manager Derek McInnes has all but ruled goalkeeper Craig Gordon out of Scotland’s friendlies against Japan and Ivory Coast next month.
The 43-year-old has started Scotland’s last two games amid an on-going goalkeeper crisis for manager Steve Clarke. Now he is sidelined with another shoulder injury. It is the opposite shoulder to the one that caused his absence at the start of this season.
Alexander Schwolow was signed in August and the German is now firmly established as Hearts’ No 1. Gordon has only made two club appearances this season and is now in a race against time to be fit for World Cup consideration.
“A specialist has seen the scan, seen Craig and he's suggested that a combination of exercise and a bit of rest from doing proper goalkeeping work over the next couple of weeks should settle that down,” confirmed McInnes.
“The likelihood is that the internationals in March will be beyond him, but hopefully he'll be back in a few weeks' time to be fit and available. But certainly not over the next two or three weeks, I don't think. It's not all doom and gloom, but certainly he's still got a bit of work to do to settle that whole area down.”
Other goalkeeper options for Clarke include Angus Gunn, who is currently No. 2 at Nottingham Forest. He has made just one club appearance this season and four for Scotland. Zander Clark, on loan at Doncaster Rovers from Hearts, is injured at present and Liam Kelly is on the bench at Rangers. Scott Bain, who was called up to the squad for the final two World Cup qualifying games against Greece and Denmark late last year, is playing weekly for Falkirk but last played for Scotland in 2019.
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