Tynecastle manager speaking ahead of Premiership game against Dundee United

Craig Gordon and Lawrence Shankland’s recent recalls by Scotland prompted thoughts in some quarters about whether more Hearts players deserve international recognition. Sitting top of the William Hill Premiership with a nine-point lead, men like Craig Halkett, Harry Milne and Stuart Findlay are huge factors in the progress at Tynecastle Park. Steve Clarke tends to rely on tried and trusted faces so those above will need to be patient as the national coach strives to reach the 2026 World Cup.

Gordon is back involved despite not playing competitively since May. With Angus Gunn injured, and Liam Kelly and Scott Bain inexperienced at international level, Gordon may well be Scotland’s goalkeeper for the pivotal final two qualifiers against Greece and Denmark later this month. Shankland’s 10 goals in 15 Hearts games earned him a call-up 12 months since his last one. The Tynecastle head coach Derek McInnes feels others would merit international recognition but is realistic enough to understand Clarke’s predicament.

“Well I do but I don't pick the team. I've never been one to champion my own players,” he said. “I don't like people telling me who I should be playing so it's up to Steve, but I do think we've got players here that could handle international football all day long. I do think that for all the Scottish players, if your game is in a good place and you're playing for a team at the top end of the table, you just never know. I think players have got to play with that motivation, whatever it is.”

There is plenty irony in Gordon possibly playing for Scotland in mid-November without a single Hearts appearance to his name this season. Alexander Schwolow is first-choice under McInnes, with 42-year-old Gordon now back-up after recovering from injury. His last competitive game was back in May. Zander Clark, also a Scotland internationalist, is out of favour, with Harry Stone fourth in line. Ryan Fulton is nearing full fitness after a groin tear and Liam McFarlane is on loan at Alloa.

McInnes admits there is a plethora of first-team keepers at Riccarton just now, but backed Gordon to handle international exposure even without club game time. “Aye, you don't play at his level and at his age without being a first-class trainer. He's training at a good level, as they all are the keepers,” said the manager. “Zander Clark's been training at a good level, so has Alex. Everybody is itching to play their part and when everybody's fit we've probably got too many goalkeepers. I've only been here a while and we've not always had our goalies fit. It was the same for Hearts at the back end of last season. We've got the benefit of having a lot of good goalkeepers at the minute. Craig is one of those and he's been training great.”

Hearts completed the first round of Premiership fixtures with a resounding 4-0 win against Dundee last weekend. They now host their neighbours, Dundee United, at Tynecastle on Sunday seeking to extend an unbeaten league run. McInnes is pleased with the first part of the season, in which his team outscored every other side and set the early pace at the top. Bonding with fans is even more important, according to the manager.

“You want to play with intent, play attacking football and ask the question of the opposition. I think the goal return would suggest that,” he commented. “It's not even just a goal return, we've got results not just by a lot of fortune. Obviously every team needs the benefit of little breaks here and there but we're scoring goals from all over, which pleases me. A good spread of goals from set-plays, crosses, shots outside the box, one-touch finishes and in the box. All that kind of thing.

“We're getting a good array of goals which pleases me but the thing that pleases me most is the connection with the support of the team. It's everything you would envisage and hope for to be honest. We said when we came in that we wanted the supporters to wake up on a Saturday morning and can’t wait to get to Tynecastle. I think that is the way it feels at the minute and I think the players are the same.

“Getting that trust from the support is so important for the players. If they didn't before, I think the players all really look forward to playing at Tynecastle. That's got to be the platform for us going forward because, in any league in the world, in any era, you can’t do what you want to do and be successful if you're no good at home. Everything is so much more difficult if you can’t deal with playing in front of your supporters. We've had different challenges, different opponents. Whether it's Celtic or whether it's Dundee, the players have dealt with the game brilliantly.

“I don't think we'll be back at Tynecastle for a while as well. It'll be the international break and then two away games after Sunday. It's not perfect, we're not the only club to suffer from that. Clearly the teams involved in Europe and TV, there is that adjustment but I don't think anybody complains too much. The supporters clearly want to see the team home and away. Away allocations are sold out. There is big demand to come and see the team. If we could have pictured that and asked for that a few months ago, we would have taken it all day long.

“Obviously, we haven’t been perfect but the outcome is we just want to make sure we win games. If we can be good at the same time, great. I think we've been good early on in the season. I thought we were good in spells in games without really being in charge all the time. But the intention is always to make sure that, even if we can't be good, be competitive and I think we've been that home and away.”

United head to Edinburgh aiming to fix their inconsistency. They are seventh in the league and yet to win back-to-back matches domestically. McInnes is an admirer of Jim Goodwin, who guided United into Europe last season. Hearts won 3-2 at Tannadice in August thanks to Findlay’s late header. “I think Jim has got a lot of good players. I think he's put a good squad together. Credit to him for that,” said McInnes.

“They've unearthed players and they've done it a bit differently, like a lot of teams, with their own way of doing things. Obviously, the European thing early on was exciting for them and we probably got them at a good time after one of those games, there's no doubt about it. They played on Thursday night and we won the game. It was tight, tighter than I'd hoped for but I think Jim has done a great job.

“He’s got a good squad and plenty of options to choose from. They change systems at times and they've got that ability to adapt so it's not all straightforward with what you're going to get. I think what you do know is it's going to be a tough game for us and we're going to need to help everybody. We're going to really need to help the supporters to be with the team.

“They can’t underplay their part in that because if they can get right behind the team from the outset, crank up the noise and make it difficult for the opposition, it will help matters because Dundee United are a team who will fancy themselves coming here. I think they've had enough good results over a period of a couple of years with Jim in charge that coming to Tynecastle, a result for them isn't beyond them, clearly. I think they won here last year didn't they? They'll be looking for more of the same and we're just looking for more of the same of what we're getting from our team.”

Before the game, McInnes will speak at the annual Haymarket Remembrance service in Edinburgh, which is attended by Hearts players and staff. Those preparing for the United match won’t be there but the Tynecastle club will be well represented by employees and supporters as always.

“It was brilliant to be asked, to be honest. The club asked me to do it,” explained McInnes. “It's an honour and obviously I'm looking forward to it. It's well documented how important the Remembrance service is, the history we've got with the club and the connection with McCrae's Battalion. It's a huge honour to be able to speak at that. Obviously, it's not perfect on the day of the game but it doesn't affect me physically. Me and my staff will be there and some of the senior players not involved in the game will be there as well as the young lads. The club will be well represented but it's nice to be asked.”