Craig Gordon stats prove Scotland number is still among the best as Zander Clark admits he doesn't want him to stop

Craig Gordon might be proving just as adept at keeping the next generation of Scotland goalkeepers at bay as he is opposition strikers.

But there’s no way Zander Clark would ever grudge the veteran Hearts keeper his number one status for country.

At the ripe old age of 39 Gordon is at the peak of his powers and has shot ahead of the chasing pack as Steve Clarke ’s outright first choice between the sticks with a series of colossal displays.

His inclusion in Clarke’s squad today is a certainty as he looks to win his 65th cap against Poland - which would put him level 10th alongside Willie Miller in Scotland's most capped players.

For Clark, 10 years his junior, the nervous wait to see if he has squeezed into one of the two back-up spaces is all too familiar.

The St Johnstone shotstopper’s performances over the last 18 months have seen him elevated into the national squad on two separate occasions including for November’s play-off clinching double header against Moldova and Denmark.

A first cap is the next target. But even if he’s left watching from the bench - or even the stands as a supporter - Clark insists he will be firmly behind Gordon and the troops.

Speaking to Record Sport, Clark admitted he’d never expect - or want - Gordon to step aside simply on account of his age.

He said: “Not at all! We are all supporters at the end of the day and you want to have the best options available to the country.

“Craig is flying high. He made the crucial penalty save in the game that secured the play-off spot away to Moldova.

“He just churns out performance after performance and it’s great to see.

“He missed a good two or three years of his career through injury and he’s got that time to make up. He’s certainly doing it