New regime has Craig pulling out all the stops

GOALKEEPER Craig Gordon has barely had time to catch his breath this summer - but the Hearts star isn't complaining.

Less than a month after helping Scotland take four points from the crucial World Cup double header against Moldova and Belarus to keep their Germany 2006 dream alive, the 22-year-old found himself sweating his way through triple training sessions with the Jambos in preparation for the new season.

This week's intensive programme was courtesy of the club's new goalkeeping coach Malcolm Webster, appointed by George Burley in place of former Celtic custodian Peter Latchford. A brief sunshine break to Portugal has been Gordon's only opportunity to unwind from the exertions of the last campaign but no sooner had he returned from the relaxing surroundings of Vilamoura than he found himself back in the thick of things.

The Jambos No.1 reported back to the club yesterday after a three-day course for keepers at Crewe, where he was put through his paces alongside the likes of Premiership stars Jussi Jaaskelainen of Bolton Wanderers and Everton's Richard Wright.

New manager Burley has wasted little time in making his presence felt in Gorgie and Gordon's involvement south of the Border this week is perhaps indicative of the thoroughness of the new regime.

"Malcolm Webster had us down at a goalkeeping course at Crewe for the first three days of this week," said Gordon. "We trained three times a day so it was quite intense and a bit different to what I have been used to in pre-season.

"It was good quality, though, with keepers like Richard Wright and Jussi Jaaskelainen, who are Premiership class also there. Training with guys of that calibre can only help me. There were a lot of goalkeepers there, some from the lower leagues and older folk such as Andy Dibble who is still playing.

"It was great as you tend to pick up little things from everyone, which can only be of benefit."

Just like the rest of his team-mates, Gordon was delighted the club managed to land a manager of the quality of Burley following weeks of speculation as to who would be filling the hot seat vacated by John Robertson in May.

Scotland colleagues Steven Pressley, Andy Webster and Paul Hartley all trained under the watchful eye of Burley for the first time on Monday having been given an extra week off in the wake of their exertions with Scotland.

Due to his commitments in Crewe - Tynecastle reserve goalie Jamie McDonald was also involved - Gordon had to wait until yesterday to get a flavour of the new management style. And he was suitably impressed.

While disappointed to see Latchford leave the club, the youngster is excited at the prospect of continuing his education under Webster.

"Having a new manager in brings a little bit of stability to the place," he said. "I'm delighted we have brought in a big name and coach of undoubted quality.

"Yesterday was my first day training with the squad and it certainly was of a very high standard.

"It was good to be involved and everything seems to moving in the right direction. It is a major thing to have George Burley here and we're all looking forward to working with him.

"Malcolm also comes to the club with a great reputation as a coach."

He added: "When I talked this week to the two keepers from Derby, Lee Camp and Lee Grant, they spoke very highly of Malcolm and in fact everybody I talked to down there seemed to have a good word to say about him.

"He has a very good reputation down south and I'm fortunate to be working with someone of such calibre.

"I was sorry to see Peter go as I got on well with him but these things happen in football and I'd like to wish him all the best for the future and I'm sure he won't be out of a job for long."

He may have established himself as Hearts' No.1 but the Balerno lad knows past success will count for nothing when it comes to impressing the new gaffer. "I can still improve as I'm not the finished article by a long way," he said. "I'm still young for a keeper and it's case of continuing to learn under the new coach. It's good to work with as many people as you can and hopefully I can continue to learn."

Gordon will join the rest of his team-mates on the club's Dublin-bound plane tomorrow, Hearts having lined up two friendlies against St Patrick's Athletic on Sunday and Bray Wanderers on Tuesday.

Having worked so hard on the training ground this week, Gordon is looking forward to pulling the gloves on for some serious action on the Emerald Isle. "It will be a case of just getting back into the swing of things in Dublin," he said.

"That's a few weeks without a game and it will be good to get back into match situations and finding our feet again after the hard work in pre season.

"It's a case of getting the games in and building the fitness levels up.

"When I came back from my holiday I spent a week working on my game myself and the time spent in England has helped improved my fitness levels.

"I am pretty much there as far that is concerned and now just want to get some games under my belt as you can't beat playing matches."

Taken from the Scotsman