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At the end of a fairytale week in which he helped Scotland to qualify for the World Cup finals, Craig Gordon was faced with something of a reality check at Pittodrie today.
After taking his place between the posts on a historic night at Hampden on Tuesday, the 42-year-old Hearts goalkeeper returned to the substitutes’ bench for his club’s 1-0 defeat by Aberdeen.
Not that it will have come as a surprise to Gordon who has slipped behind Alexander Schwolow in the Tynecastle pecking order and has played only for his country this season.
He would have retired last summer had Scotland head coach Steve Clarke not intimated that he might be needed, as indeed he was when Angus Gunn was injured for the last two group games.
It’s just that the situation looks a little different now that Scotland have actually made it to next summer’s finals and Gordon has an opportunity to be there.
So far, he has been able to step in as an emergency thanks to his long experience at club and international level, but an entire campaign of inactivity would surely catch up with him.
Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon wants to be in Scotland's squad for the World Cup finals
Yevhen Kucherenko was at fault for the three goals Dundee United conceded against Falkirk
Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell has wrestled with a goalkeeping crisis this season
For as much has he loves Hearts and everything they have done this season, Gordon may need to go out on loan. If he does, it will consolidate his position in the squad for North America and, who knows, maybe even take him there as first choice.
One thing’s for sure: there are plenty options in the Scottish Premiership right now. One or two top-flight clubs are clearly struggling in that position and could do with a goalkeeper of Gordon’s pedigree.
Foremost among them are Dundee United, who crashed 3-0 at home to Falkirk yesterday, thanks in no small part to a catastrophic display by Yevhen Kucherenko.
The Ukrainian goalkeeper was at fault for all three of the goals, fumbling an easy shot for the first, punching into his own net for the second and hesitating for the third.
While it would be unfair to blame only the goalkeeper for United’s recent struggles, Kucherenko has cost them too many points and it would be a surprise if manager Jim Goodwin was not contemplating a change.
If nothing else, Kucherenko’s confidence must be shot, which is why the Falkirk goalkeeper, Scott Bain, was seen consoling his opposite number after the final whistle at Tannadice.
In the short term, Goodwin can call upon his No 2 keeper, Dave Richards, but the Welshman has barely played any first-team football in the last two years and, going forward, Gordon would be a better solution.
Kilmarnock is another intriguing possibility for Gordon. Since losing first-choice keeper Max Stryjek to a health issue, they have alternated between young Eddie Beach and emergency loan signing Tobi Aluwayemi.
While the latter was not responsible for the 3-1 home defeat by Motherwell yesterday, it was Kilmarnock’s sixth defeat in a row, a sequence in which they have conceded 17 goals.
The Ayrshire side compete well enough, but their defending is hapless, their manager Stuart Kettlewell is under growing pressure and a veteran Scotland international would help to shore things up.
When Aluwayemi was unable to play against his parent club, Celtic, earlier this month, Kettlewell asked Hearts about their keepers and whether one of them, reportedly Zander Clark, would be available on a short-term deal.
As it turned out, Hearts were willing to offer only their fourth-choice goalkeeper, Harry Stone, which leads us to the main problem for Gordon as he works out what to do next.
If he does make the difficult decision to prioritise his personal ambitions, his boss Derek McInnes will be reluctant to let him go, especially during a season that presents Hearts with a rare opportunity.
The hope for Scotland is that McInnes sees the wider picture. If he cannot guarantee Gordon games in the Scottish Cup and a few also in the league, maybe it is time to farm him out.
Whatever he decides, McInnes will hopefully take into account the wishes of a goalkeeper who has given most of his career to the Edinburgh club. And the wishes of a nation who need him to be playing games.
Barnes could be just what Scotland need
If Newcastle winger Harvey Barnes is willing to switch allegiances and commit himself to Scotland, let’s not get too upset about it.
The Burnley-born player has one cap for England – a friendly against Wales – but he remains eligible for Scotland through his maternal grandparents.
Yes, he would only be doing it because Scotland have qualified for the World Cup finals, but the same argument was levelled at Che Adams ahead of Euro 2020.
That is more or less forgotten now, as it would be with 27-year-old Barnes if he gave Scotland the guile and penetration they too often lack in attack.
He scored both goals in Newcastle’s 2-1 win against Manchester City on Saturday and could be exactly what the national side need next summer.
Scotland boss Steve Clarke is famously loyal to existing players, but if there is an opportunity for him to improve the team by recruiting Barnes, it would be remiss of him not to do so.
