Craig Gordon: I'm quite emotional about Marius Zaliukas - he was a great Hearts leader

Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon paid tribute to his tragic team-mate Marius Zaliukas by recalling him as a “real, hard defender”.

09/04/07 MUSSELBURGH Craig Gordon (left) Eduardas Kurskis (centre) and Marius Zaliukas study the form at the Hearts Race Day

Zaliukas, who captained Hearts to glory in the 2012 Scottish Cup final against Hibs, passed away on Saturday after a battle with illness at the age of 36.

Gordon was a team-mate of the Lithuanian centre-back during his time at Tynecastle and, following the goalie’s heroics in the 2-1 Scottish Cup semi-final victory over Hibs, was quick to fondly remember Zaliukas, who played more than 200 times for the Jambos between 2006 and 2013.

“I'm quite emotional about Marius,” said Gordon. “He was a great guy in the dressing-room, a real leader.

“He was the exact type of centre half you'd want in front of you – whether it was a match or five-a-sides. He'd always throw his body on the line.

“He was a real, hard defender. I played many games with him, he was fantastic for Hearts.

“I feel for his family at this time. It would be fitting if we could go on and win it for him now.”

Hearts booked their spot in the 2020 final with a narrow win over their rivals, with Liam Boyce netting a penalty to win the match in extra time. The Jambos will take on either Aberdeen or Celtic in the final on December 20.

“We've given ourselves the chance to go and do that now, whoever we play,” added Gordon, “but for now we need to get back to league business, get points on the board to try and make sure we get back to the Premiership.”

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