Former Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon has confirmed he is desperate to get back on the pitch following his horrific double-leg break against Dundee United on Christmas Eve. The 40-year-old has been pictured in the gym in recent weeks but states that he is still seven months away from returning to action.
Speaking to The Sun, Gordon reaffirmed his aim to fight back from injury before inevitably deciding to retire when he chooses to do so and not because of this injury.
“I want to retire on my own terms, and not to have that dictated to me by an injury. I want that feeling back of leading the Hearts team out and playing again.
“I have a lot of hard work to do before I can get back to that. But that’s the goal for me. I really can’t guarantee anything, but I want to push myself as much as I possibly can.
“If I can get back playing for Hearts then hopefully I can get back playing for Scotland too.
“When injuries happen you have to fight your way back and prove all over again that you deserve to be playing. That’s the challenge for me now. I have had the majority of my career. I know there is only a certain amount of time I’ve potentially got left playing.
“Had this happened when I was 17 or 18, when I hadn’t done anything in the game, then it would be a completely different story.
“But I’m content with where I am. I’ve given my career absolutely everything until now.
“If things don’t work out from here on then I still have that to show for all my efforts, and I have a lot to be proud of. I could deal with it.
“But that’s not the way I’m thinking because I flip it around and say, ‘I’m not done yet’.
“In fairness, the surgeon has been very positive. But the concern people have is with my age and the fact I’m 40 now, which I understand.
“That plays on people’s minds and I know there will be some who will question if I’m the same player as before if I do come back.
“But bring it on. Let’s see. Give me that opportunity and I’ll see what I can do.”
Gordon made 242 appearances at Celtic, winning an incredible 14 major honours in his time in the Hoops. Gordon spent six years at Celtic but following the expiry of his deal in 2020, no agreement was reached leaving the Invincible keeper free to join any club.
Hearts swooped to sign their former £9m export, who played just six games for Celtic from the beginning of 2019 up until his departure in the summer of 2020. The leg break for the Jambos up at Tannadice was a sickener but Gordon has shown that he has resilience in abundance and will no doubt be back to see out his contract, due to expire in 2024.
Hopefully Gordon can make a return to football and that an excellent career is not ended in such a cruel fashion.
