Craig Gordon aiming to end career on high with Hearts and Scotland at World Cup

Craig Gordon is aiming to end his illustrious career on a high by having a good season with Hearts and helping Scotland to the World Cup.

The veteran goalkeeper, who will turn 43 in December, has signed on for another year at Tynecastle in a bid to help his boyhood club improve on a disappointing campaign.

He also has his sights set on a swansong in North America where the World Cup will be held next summer and believes the current squad have enough to reach the biggest stage of all.

The national team haven’t qualified for the tournament since 1998, and Gordon believes it would mark the perfect end to a storied career.

Hearts will take on newly promoted English Premier League side Sunderland to mark his testimonial year on July 26.

Speaking about his decision to keep playing for another year, he said: “As last season wore on, towards the end, when things started to calm down a bit and we were down to one game a week, the workload was still manageable.

“For most of the first part of the season, I thought that would be my last season, but as the season progressed I still felt good and decided I still had another year left in me.

“So, it was a good decision, I think. I am excited again to get back to pre-season and ready to go again.

“It wasn’t a great season for anybody at the club, so there was always that in the background, but personally for me I didn’t think it was too bad, I had some good moments throughout the season and I think not having that good last moment, to be able to go out on a high, I am still really motivated to get out there and do as best as I can and be the best goalkeeper I can be.

“So there was that, and with Scotland as well the World Cup is going to be decided over the next six games within four or five months of the season starting, so it’s not that far away.

“That was all the reasons I needed to keep going and keep giving it my very best.”

Gordon first signed for the Jambos in 1999 and made his professional debut while out on loan at Cowdenbeath as a teenager in 2001.

In a career that has spanned 24 years, he has also played for Sunderland and Celtic, winning three Scottish Cups, five Premiership titles and five League Cups while helping the Hoops to a historic quadruple treble between 2017 and 2020.

He has also earned 81 Scotland caps and insists he is motivated as ever for further success domestically and at international level.

He said: “I am motivated on both fronts. There have been a lot of changes at Hearts, and there’s a new management team coming in. Also, we have six games with Scotland, and I believe in that squad.

“I think we can beat anybody on any given day, so we have got great ability there and the chance to get ourselves to a World Cup.

“It will be difficult, there are other good teams in the group, but I still think we have that opportunity and it’s an exciting time at Hearts with the new manager and a host of new players.

“So there is a lot to be positive about on both fronts.”