Exclusive: Craig Gordon on association with Hibees, keeping Hearts beating and preserving an excellent record against Hibs

Craig Gordon doesn’t really do flustered and is therefore the ideal guy to put bang in the middle of such a scenario. He saunters leisurely along the corridor at Riccarton, cracking a few jokes before speaking exclusively to the Evening News.

Even at 39, after winning trebles, player of the year awards and dozens of Scotland caps, this is quite a momentous week in Gordon’s career. A league meeting with his club’s greatest rivals precedes a Scottish Cup semi-final against the same opponents in what is a mouthwatering few days.

The goalkeeper’s build-up is as controlled as possible. “It’s busy for ticket requests, I can tell you that,” he says. “It’s enjoyable. My family are all Hearts fans wanting to come to the game and support us. They are there most weeks but these are the big games that mean a lot to everybody, including me.”

For all his relaxed and languid mannerisms, Gordon’s Hibs mates are sensible enough not to poke the chilled-out bear too much. “There aren't that many. I don’t associate myself with too many Hibees,” he laughs.

“There are a few but everything is usually kept low-key. I won’t gloat too much if they don’t. Over the years that respect has grown and we don’t go in too deep when either one of us is hurting. Hopefully that’s not us over the next couple of weeks. We are focused on winning.”

Hurt against Hibs is in fact a rare experience. Three times Gordon has encountered the Leith neighbours since rejoining Hearts in summer 2020, knocking them out of a Scottish Cup semi-final before this season’s two goalless league affairs.

His first spell at Tynecastle brought eight wins, four draws and only four defeats for the Scotland goalkeeper against the Easter Road club. In fact, playing with Sunderland and