Celtic boss Neil Lennon speaks on Craig Gordon 'speculation' as goalkeeper is linked with Hearts return

The former Hearts goalkeeper has been linked with a return to Tynecastle

Celtic boss Neil Lennon shut down any speculation touting Craig Gordon with a return to Hearts.

Over the past couple of days the Scotland international has been linked with a switch to Tynecastle, nearly 13 years after leaving for Sunderland in a record deal which could have reached £9million.

During his time at the Mackems he produced the save which was voted the best across the first 20 years of the English Premier League. However, due to issues with his knee he left Sunderland in 2012 and missed two years of action.

Neil Lennon has ruled out Craig Gordon departing. Picture: SNS

It is understood Gordon, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is keen to leave Parkhead to get first-team football with the European Championship play-offs in March followed by a potential first finals tournament in 22 years.

The 37-year-old has played just six times in a year for Celtic having found himself playing back-up to Scott Bain and now Fraser Forster.

While understanding of the player's frustration Lennon is not prepared to let Gordon leave, reiterating the point to BT Sport before Celtic's 3-0 win over St Johnstone on Wednesday night before making the same point after the match.

“That’s just speculation," he said. “Craig wants to play obviously with the Euros in mind, but he’s such an important part of the squad here that we don’t want to let him go.”