Steven Naismith has NO Hearts number one as Craig Gordon to battle Zander Clark in straight fight for gloves

Steven Naismith insists Zander Clark and Craig Gordon are in a straight fight for the gloves at Hearts - as he has no intention to have a ‘cup keeper’ this season.

Veteran showstopper Gordon was used mainly in the Scottish Cup last season after returning from a double leg break that threatened to end his career. Clark looked to have established himself as the outright number one at Tynecastle and again has started the first two league games this season.

But with a hectic run of domestic and European football now about to start and Clark having come in for criticism for one of the goals conceded in last week’s defeat at Dundee, fan focus is back between the sticks. Ahead of the trip to face Falkirk in the League Cup, Naismith said: “The two goalies will play but it’s not just going to be for the cup or not.

“Until there’s a time that I maybe feel that I want to stick with one they will both play minutes. I don’t think it’s making my mind up. It’s just seeing the way the form goes like the outfield players.

“Both of them have come back in really good condition. They’re both at a very similar level I believe. Until that changes then we’ll go this way. If it does change then it will change. They both understand it and they’re both up for the fight.”

Naismith is looking for a reaction to last week’s shock 3-1 defeat at Dens where he took aim at his players’ energy levels. But the Tynecastle boss admits he was at fault too. He said: “Last week was disappointing. Looking back at it, I think I got some things wrong. That’s probably the biggest thing that made it tough for the players.

“As I said after the game, the energy levels and intensity was the bit I was putting on the players. That hasn’t changed. I could have helped them