Gordon already talking about ‘getting himself back’

Robbie Neilson revealed to Hearts TV that he has visited Craig Gordon twice in hospital since Saturday’s incident at Tannadice. And the manager declared: “He’s already talking about timescales and trying to get himself back.”

Hearts’ No 1 goalkeeper and captain suffered a double leg break in the 2-2 draw at Dundee United and was carried off the filed on a stretcher ahead of surgery on his damaged leg.

Neilson said: “It’s devastating for everyone and I have known Craig personally for a long time. He’s a fighter and he has fought back from a serious injury with his knee and I expect him to do exactly the same.”

Neilson revealed that the Scotland No 1 (pictured in training before the incident by Nigel Duncan) was due to be released from hospital on Tuesday and added: “We will do everything we can to help him.

“It was a horrible incident and a difficult night but i am sure he will be back.”

The manager believes Gordon is the best player the club has ever produced, coming through the academy and on to international football, and he added: “He’s also a really nice guy.

“He has suffered a real blow.”

Zander Clark is set-to step in and Neilson said: “Craig was obviously the No 1 but somebody else now has an opportunity to step in and grasp that.”

The other goalkeepers in the squad, he said, have trained well and he added: “I am sure the guys that come in will do well.”

Hearts head for Perth and a tussle with St Johnstone on Wednesday in the cinch Scottish Premiership and the manager said: “It is always a tough place to go and historically we don’t have a great record up there and it is something we need to try and change.”