Scotland boss Steve Clarke tells veteran keeper Craig Gordon he can reclaim No 1 spot in national side

Steve Clarke has told Craig Gordon he can now reclaim his status as Scotland’s No 1 goalkeeper.

The Hearts’ veteran was cut from the squad for Euro 2024 and remained in international exile at the outset of this Nations League campaign.

But having since won back the gloves at Tynecastle, the 41-year-old was yesterday recalled to Clarke’s 23-man squad for the forthcoming matches with Croatia and Portugal.

Four months after making what many believed would be his final appearance against Finland, Clarke feels Gordon can now deliver on his promise to add to the 75 caps he’s already won.

‘All three goalkeepers are fighting for the No 1 shirt. Always,’ said the manager.

‘He told me he wasn’t stopping at 75, so you never know.

Steve Clarke has been impressed by Gordon’s desire to get back into national set-up

The 41-year-old has been a regular between the sticks at Hearts this season

‘He’s the No 1 at Hearts and he’s playing every week. Zander (Clark) has been on the bench, Liam Kelly has been on the bench at Rangers and Robby McCrorie has been on the bench at Kilmarnock.

‘I need three goalkeepers and what better than to bring Craig back? Craig told me it (the Finland game) was not a farewell, that he would see me in the future. 

‘So, he lived up to his promise. He’s always shown that he’s up for the fight. He wants to play every week, he wants to play as many times as he can for his country. So, I look forward to seeing him again.’

With a raft of players including John McGinn, Kieran Tierney, Jack Hendry and Scott McKenna injured, Clarke has named three uncapped faces in the squad which will travel to Zagreb for the game on October 12 with Portugal due at Hampden three days later.

As Mail Sport first revealed, Preston’s Liam Lindsay is in the party together with Aberdeen’s Nicky Devlin and West Ham’s Andy Irving. ‘It’s a testing time for me and a testing time for the squad,’ Clarke added. ‘But we need to talk about the ones we’re going to see play.

‘They’re going to have a chance to play and maybe a chance for some of them to kickstart an international career at this stage of their career.’

Kevin Nisbet has not been called despite scoring three goals in four games for Aberdeen, but Clarke insists he will always be monitored. Meanwhile, the national coach said Austin MacPhee will be a ‘big loss’ following his decision to step down from the backroom staff.

There is no place in the latest squad for Gordon’s club team-mate Zander Clark

The set-piece specialist, who joined the set-up three years ago, planned to step aside due to a combination of his father being ill and his commitments at Aston Villa.

Clarke hasn’t brought in a like-for-like replacement at this stage — with a new analyst set to assist John Carver and Alan Irvine. ‘

First of all, it’s a big blow for us that Austin’s stepped aside,’ Clarke said. ‘But it’s a bigger blow for Austin and his family.

‘He’s got difficult times ahead and we certainly wish them well, especially his father who’s going to have a tough time. So, hopefully that works out.’