Craig Gordon tells Hearts return doubters to try and retire him again as defiant goalkeeper wants Euro 2024 shot

He's had his career written off through injury once before only to ram the doubters’ words back down their throats.

Now Craig Gordon challenges anyone to try to retire him again as he continues his fightback from the double leg break that ended his season in December. The 40-year-old insists he’ll be back and he’d love nothing more than for Scotland to clinch qualification for next summer’s Euros to give him another major tournament to target.

The keeper, who spent two years on the sidelines with a knee injury between 2012 and 2014 before returning to the very top with Celtic, Scotland and now Hearts has a warning for anyone who thinks his career is in the knacker’s yard. Gordon said: “I’d love that. Do it, say it. Write it! See what happens. I’ve had to fight back from injuries before. It’s tough but you’ve got to accept it’s going to be tough and fight against that.”

Germany 2024 remains a real target for Gordon – even if he’ll be 41 by that point. He added: “That’s always something at the back of my mind when I’m in the gym and thinking I need to push myself that bit more that if Scotland can get to another finals I’d love to be part of that. A lot of work to be done for me to get back to that level but I’ll give it my best shot.”

The Hearts keeper hopes to be back doing light work in pre-season and added: “The leg’s getting there. At times it feels like it’s taking ages and you’re not getting anywhere but every now and again I do feel the progress has moved up a notch.

“I keep asking the physios if I can get the gloves back on but they keep telling me it’s not time! I’ll keep pushing them and they’ll give in eventually. The England game was mentioned but I’d need to be playing games before that to be in