Craig Gordon completes his return to Hearts after leaving Celtic

Craig Gordon has rejoined Hearts after leaving Celtic.

Craig Gordon has completed his return to Hearts by signing a two-year contract following his exit from Celtic.

Thirteen years since leaving for Sunderland in a record-breaking £9million deal, the goalkeeper is back at Tynecastle Park ready to become the established No.1 under new manager Robbie Neilson.

Gordon, 37, announced on Sunday that he was leaving Celtic after six years in the east end of Glasgow. He rejected the offer of a new contract on reduced terms and, despite interest from England, chose to rejoin his formative club in Edinburgh.

His initial two-year deal could lead to a future coaching role, something he is keen to pursue, but for now he will focus on playing regularly again after being back-up keeper at Celtic.

Hearts already have the Czech Zdenek Zlamal and Irishman Colin Doyle under contract until summer 2021. Gordon will push to cement a first-team place ahead of both of them as Neilson reshapes the squad.

The goalkeeper hopes regular game time will also lead to a Scotland recall, even if Hearts are playing in the Championship. The last of his 54 international caps came against Portugal in October 2018.

Gordon supported Hearts as a child and came through their youth system before becoming an established first-team regular in 2003.

He won the Scottish Cup in 2006 and left for Sunderland in a £9m move in 2007 – a British record fee for a goalkeeper at the time.

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