Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon has admitted that he still has no idea if the much sought after number one shirt is his to keep after Wednesday night’s heroics against Iceland.
The Sunderland star was handed back his place between the sticks for the do-or-die World Cup qualifier due the unceremonious axing of Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor from the starting XI.
And the towering ace repaid manager George Burley’s decision with a heroic late double save that kept the Scots' slender 2-1 lead intact at Hampden Park.
But despite making the stops that kept his country’s dreams of going to South Africa in 2010 alive, the former Hearts man believes that losing his regular spot at club level could jeopardise his place as national number one.
“I can’t say the jersey is mine now” confessed the 26-year-old. “There is still competition between myself and Allan McGregor, because he is a very good goalkeeper. And if things don’t work out for me at Sunderland it puts more pressure on me at an international level so I can’t be sure of keeping my place.
“But I’m happy with my performance, and it won’t do me any harm when I go back to my club for training. Hopefully I’ve done enough to put doubts in the manager’s mind ahead of our game at the weekend.”
The former Tynecastle player has been a stalwart for the national side for nearly five years before being made to cope with the unfamiliar surroundings of the substitute’s bench in Saturday’s clash with Holland.
But Gordon insists that Burley’s handling of the situation made life easier for him.
“The manager told me early last week that I wouldn’t be playing, so it was good that I had a few days to get my head around it” he explained. “He didn’t say that I was out for just one game, only that he was going with Allan.
“Obviously it was disappointing but it was the manager’s decision and I had to accept it. But he showed great faith to put me back in for a must win game, and I can only thank him for that.”