Zander Clark hopes Hearts form pays dividends in Scotland number one battle but audition poser shut down

Zander Clark is ready to go to war in his bid to claim the gloves for his country.

But the Hearts keeper insists there will be no bad blood with Angus Gunn or Liam Kelly as it’s a battle between a band of brothers with an unbreakable bond. Norwich No.1 Gunn and Motherwell’s Kelly will fight it out with Clark next week in their bid to start for Scotland as boss Steve Clarke assesses his goalkeeping options ahead of a double-header against Cyprus and Spain.

The 30-year-old admits it’s been a bittersweet twist of fate which has allowed him to replace the injury-stricken Craig Gordon as first choice at Tynecastle and his form has earned a recall into the international fold. Regardless of which man is selected to stand between the sticks against the Cypriots next Saturday, Clark knows it’ll be a changing of the guard now the era of David Marshall, Allan McGregor and Gordon is at an end.

He said: “Listen, there’s always battles. As a goalkeeper you know there’s only that one position and only one of you can play. So now it’s down to the next group to have those battles in training, proving that you’re of the standard to go in and replicate what the ones previously have done. You’re just focused on what you need to do to get into the team and playing.

“Being a goalkeeper, we’re a special bunch. There’s not many outfield players who could fit into a goalkeeping group, we’re a daft bunch, there’s never any fall-outs, or very rarely, in the goalkeeping department.

"Everyone just wants to do their very best. With the one who’s playing, if you can push him and improve then it’s better for the team, then you’re delighted.

"Then if they have a dip and you take their place, you’re obviously delighted for yourself but the first people