Hearts discuss Craig Gordon's loan prospects and the deciding factor ahead of World Cup 2026

Hearts have no intention of loaning Craig Gordon out in January unless the goalkeeper decides he needs more games to make Scotland’s World Cup squad. The Edinburgh club’s chief executive, Andrew McKinlay, addressed the issue as the national team digest the draw for next summer’s finals in USA, Canada and Mexico.

Gordon, 42, is second choice at club level behind Alexander Schwolow. Fellow Scotland internationalist Zander Clark is third in line and unable to make the Hearts substitutes’ bench at the moment. Gordon played an important part in helping his country qualify for the World Cup by playing in last month’s historic 4-2 win over Denmark at Hampden Park. He deputised for the injured Angus Gunn and has not declared any wish to leave Hearts, where his contract expires next June.

He has never played for Scotland at an international tournament and is keen to tick that box before he retires. Tynecastle officials want him to stay but, should Gordon decide a January move would benefit him ahead of the World Cup, they will discuss the matter. “That's obviously one for Craig and the manager,” said McKinlay. “But what I would say is here and now, Craig ain't going anywhere because we've seen before what can happen between now and - I hope it doesn't happen - but something might happen to Alex.

“Remember Craig's injury on Christmas Eve a few years ago? So Craig is vital to us. Craig has not said anything about January, but I guess if he feels he's not going to get football, then he may want to do something. We would be led by Craig on that and I'm sure he would have a discussion with the manager and we would look at what else we've got in place.

“I know Craig also wouldn't do anything to harm the club, but it would be a fitting way - and I'm not announcing Craig's retirement by the way - but certainly from my perspective, it would be a fitting way for him to end his career. He might tell me otherwise. He might tell me he wants another two years, that's fine, we can have that discussion. But that's just a personal view and I'm delighted for him.”

Gordon’s return to prominence at international level comes 18 months after he looked to have played his last game for Scotland. He came on as a substitute against Finland in June last year after being left out of the final squad for Euro 2024. Last month saw him back in the team and helping his country reach the World Cup for the first time since 1998.

“When he didn't get into the Euros squad, I was at Hampden that night and actually I remember seeing him and his now wife and his kids down at the side of the pitch after everyone had gone,” recalled McKinlay. “You could tell it was quite emotional because he thought that was his last cap. So it's a real fairytale that he is back in and I’m delighted for him.”

Schwolow is expected to keep his place in the Hearts team for Sunday’s top-of-the table meeting with Celtic in Glasgow. The German’s mistake allowed Bruce Anderson to score an 89th-minute equaliser for Kilmarnock at Tynecastle on Wednesday. Hearts travel west for what will be Celtic’s first game under new manager Wilfried Nancy.

“We had spoken about that but we've got a handle of how he plays. We've got a few games to watch,” said Derek McInnes, the Hearts head coach. “What he changes, I don't know. He's certainly got a real shape that he wants to play, which is different to the shape they currently play. Whether he can impart that over a couple of days, who knows? I was kind of hoping he would be in charge for Wednesday night [against Dundee], so I'd have a better idea if he was going to change it. But we need to wait and see. We'll find out on Sunday.”

McInnes will remind the Hearts players of their rousing 3-1 home win against Celtic in October before Sunday’s fixture. His team have won only one of their last six matches but will arrive in Glasgow top of the Premiership on goal difference. “Celtic Park is always a tough game. It's always a game that you look forward to,” said McInnes. “We'd rather go into it off the back of a win, but unfortunately that's not the case. But there'll be a wee reminder to the players of how good we were here against them and what we did right in that game.

“There are things here that we can fix. We're not in a bad place. We could do with getting one or two players back to where they were earlier in the season, clearly, but that's what a season's for. There are peaks and troughs with every player. We just need that wee bit more consistency at times. When we got the consistency of selection, we got the consistency of results. We got some good results, but once injuries come and different ways of playing, you've got to consider everything.”

McInnes’ squad are all fit other than four injured midfielders - Beni Baningime, Finlay Pollock, Calem Nieuwenhof and Eduardo Ageu.