Craig Gordon fears his career may be over

FORMER Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon has admitted for the first time that he may never play football again. The Scotland internationalist is without a club since leaving Sunderland last summer and is already preparing for the possibility that injury could end his career prematurely at the age of 30.

Gordon was part of Dumbarton’s coaching staff for Saturday’s First Division match at Livingston and will continue coaching there in case his worst fears are realised. He is struggling to overcome knee injuries which restricted him to just one competitive appearance in the last two years.

“It’s very unlikely I will be playing again this season. In fact I’m not sure if I’ll play again, so I’m looking to get into coaching as I want to remain in the game,” he said. “I’m not ruling out playing again but I need to get things in place if the news is not good in that respect.”

Gordon is still attempting to recover from tendon and ligament problems in his knee but is concerned that he may never again reach the level that prompted Sunderland to pay Hearts £9 million for his services in 2007.

He was given an opportunity to begin coaching under his long-term friend Ian Murray, the former Hibs captain who is now Dumbarton’s player/manager. “We agreed last week for me to come in and start things at Livingston and it may become a regular thing. I enjoyed the game and viewing it from a coach’s point of view.”