Former Celtic midfielder Roy Keane talked up the goalkeeper ahead of Scotland’s FIFA World Cup opener with Haiti.
Scotland kick off their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign this weekend as they take on Haiti in Boston.
Steve Clarke has a number of big selection calls to make when he names his starting XI for the match. One of those will be the goalkeeper where Nottingham Forrest’s Angus Gunn is battling with Hearts’ Craig Gordon and Rangers’ Liam Kelly for the gloves.
At 43-years-old, Gordon is the oldest player at the tournament but many still believe he should be the man to stand between the sticks for the national team. They include supporters, pundits, ex players and perhaps even a man who knows the veteran stopper very well.
Roy Keane praises ‘really nice lad’ Craig Gordon ahead of Scotland’s FIFA World Cup opener
Manchester United legend Roy Keane was the manager who spent a then British record transfer fee on a goalkeeper of £9 million to sign Gordon for Sunderland from the Jambos back in 2007. Little did he know that the keeper would still be performing at the top level all these years later.
The former Celtic player was speaking during ITV’s coverage of the England v Costa Rica friendly on Wednesday night and was asked about the Hearts man. He said: “I signed him at Sunderland, he’s a really good pro and has had an amazing career.
“To keep going is a great reflection on his professionalism, to have that hunger and desire, and he’s had some bad injuries over the years so be be back involved with the Scotland squad is fantastic. I have a lot of time for him, he’s a really nice land and a brilliant professional.”
Another commentator who was full of praise for the Hearts man was Cammy Bell, the former Rangers and Kilmarnock goalkeeper who earned one cap for Scotland. Speaking on BBC Sport Scotland’s World Cup podcast, Bell said: “I had a really good relationship with Craig at that point, I’d been in squads with him, so I saw him go through that difficult time.
Former Rangers keeper tips Craig Gordon to start for Scotland against Haiti
“It’s hard to watch such a talented goalkeeper and a guy who is so determined – and a brilliant personality as a person as well, a great human being – go through such dark days. But again, this is why he went through them, this is why he’s come out into the light at the end of the tunnel, if you want to call it that.
“He’s worked ever so hard and he fully deserves this opportunity. Forty-three years old – he could have easily given up years ago and he didn’t. He’s so determined and he’s a brilliant goalkeeper, but also a great person, so I really do hope that Craig gets the nod because I think he fully deserves it – and for me, I think he’s the best choice for us as well.”
The one time Hibs player went as far to tip Gordon to start between the sticks for Scotland at the World Cup, adding: “I’ve always said that I think Steve Clarke will go with Craig Gordon, purely on his experience and again from what we’ve seen when he’s had to step in in those big moments when he’s not had a lot of game-time in this similar situation.
“Yes, it’s not a World Cup, there’s not those pressures of it, but that’s why I think he will go with Craig Gordon, because this is a huge, huge moment for the country. This is a high-pressure environment that he’s going to go into, so you need somebody who’s calm and has got all those years of experience, and I think he’ll stick with Craig Gordon.”
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