Hearts ace to get Scots bow

Published on Tuesday 3 September 2002 01:00

HEARTS goalkeeper Craig Gordon is set to make his Scotland Under-21 debut in tomorrow’s friendly against Israel at Hamilton’s Ballast Stadium.

The young stopper was called up to the squad for the first time by new boss Rainer Bonhof for the recent draw with Denmark at East End Park.

He was left sitting on the sidelines, though, as Dundee’s Derek Soutar and Allan McGregor of Rangers shared the duties between the posts against the Danes, both starlets enjoying 45 minutes each.

Bonhof now looks set to continue the policy of rotating his keepers as he makes the most of the opportunity to run the rule over the players at his disposal.

Both Gordon and Livingston’s highly-rated keeper Dave McEwan have been earmarked for involvement tomorrow as the young Scots play the first of two friendlies in the space of three days - they take on Northern Ireland at Love Street on Friday night.

Hearts boss Craig Levein has high hopes for the 19-year-old, Gordon having been secured on a long-term contract at Tynecastle.

He was due to make his first top-team appearance in the final game of last season only for a knee injury in training to spoil his big day.

Gordon was delighted by his inclusion in Bonhof’s first squad since taking full-time charge of the Under-21s and thoroughly enjoyed the experiencedespite having to watch the 1-1 draw unfold from the main stand.

However, if Bonhof is true to his word and the youngster gets a taste of the action tomorrow night, it will mark another feather in the cap of the talented teenager who has been touted as a future No.1 at Tynecastle.

Twenty-year-old McEwan is also recognised as one of the country’s top young performers and is currently No.2 to the experienced Javier Sanchez Broto at Almondvale.

Like Gordon, his inclusion in the squad for the Denmark clash was his first involvement with the national team at that level and he, too, will be desperate to impress if he is thrown the gloves at the Ballast Stadium.

Meanwhile, Hearts under-21 side slumped to a 3-1 defeat at Motherwell yesterday.

Ryan Davidson got the Jambos’ consolation late in the game while Neil Janczyk was sent off at the end of the first half.

Hearts: Windrum, Smith, McCann, Kaczan, Webster, Janczyk, Twaddle, McGeown, Wales, Davidson, Sloan.