Webster says heated exchange just shows will to win

GRAEME CROSER

ANDY WEBSTER nearly came to blows with team-mate Craig Gordon on Saturday - but that hasn’t stopped him tipping the Hearts keeper for full international honours.

Gordon reacted angrily to Webster’s decision to put the ball out for a corner during the first half of Saturday’s victory over Kilmarnock and went eyeball-to-eyeball with the defender.

The sight of the two youngsters at loggerheads pleased boss Craig Levein as the Jambos battled to end a four-game losing sequence and Webster also believes it epitomised the pair’s will to win.

He said: "Craig and I were listening to a bit of Rocky music in the dressing-room before the match so maybe that had something to do with what happened!

"We had a bit of a set-to on Saturday but I think that just showed that we both want to win. If you fall out on the park then so be it. We shook hands at half-time and even after that I complimented him on the saves he was making.

"There are times when you have to say ‘well done’ and on other occasions you may fall out. These things happen but there’s no problem between us at all."

Both are maturing into key players for the Tynecastle side with 21-year-old Webster already a regular member of Berti Vogts’ Scotland squads.

Gordon turns 21 on Hogmanay and has only just made the top-team breakthrough at Hearts this season.

However, his impressive form - which continued at the weekend with a man of the match-winning performance - has seen him earn a call-up to the Future Squad.

Webster believes it’s only a matter of time before he’s given a chance at full level - and while taking nothing for granted, he hopes to line up alongside him in dark blue.

He continued: "A lot of people haven’t seen Craig play until recently but I’ve got to know him over the two-and-a-half years I’ve been at Hearts.

"He is going to be a really good keeper in time and he’s playing excellently just now.

"He made some great saves on Saturday, but he’s always got that in his locker. Where he pulls some of the saves from I don’t know but it really made a difference at the weekend. Craig’s club form has been good and he played the first half of the Future game last week. I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t progress to the full side from there.

"He has got a really bright future and I’d like to think at some point we’ll play together for Scotland.

"That’s a nice thought but to be honest I have to make sure I can get myself in there first before I get too carried away.

"Everybody said I did reasonably well towards the end of last season but the challenge for me is to take it a step further.

"I was left out of the side for a wee while there but hopefully I’ve come back from that now. I feel confident and feel I’ve done okay so hopefully things are back on track."

Webster will be missing through suspension as Hearts travel to face Rangers this weekend.

He won’t be the only absentee either, with Alan Maybury also banned and Steven Pressley and Mark De Vries injured.

However, he believes the Jambos can still approach the game with confidence given the fact they have just ended their barren run.

He added: "Saturday’s was a massive game for us and we just had to win.

"We only played well in spells but beforehand we had discussed it and all we wanted was the win.

"The manager went to a back three for the game and he has been changing it about recently to try and hit upon the right formula.

"We hadn’t been playing too badly going into the game and, if anything, Saturday was the worst we’ve played for a while yet we’ve come away with the win.

"We went into it reasonably confident because we felt we had been doing reasonably well.

"Maybe the fact the game was at home influenced things but really Hearts should be looking to win every single game.

"We want to improve on last season and that will require us to do it both at home and away.

"Having won at the weekend I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t go to Ibrox and get a result.

"Every time you go there you know it’s going to be hard and I suppose with the players we’ll have missing it makes things a bit more difficult.

"It’s disappointing that I’ll have to miss out but I’m sure the boys are capable of going there and getting something.

"They’ll have to be right on top of their game but this squad is growing together and should, I feel, go there with confidence.

"We’ve shown we’re willing to fight for results, as myself and Craig showed at the weekend!"

Taken from the Scotsman