CRAIG CAN BE NO 1 EXPORT TO EURO ELITE

SCOTLAND goalkeeping coach Jim Stewart reckons Craig Gordon will have some of Europe's top teams chasing his signature in the near future.

And Stewart believes the Hearts No.1 will accept the challenge to leave Tynecastle to go on and become the first keeper from Scotland to make his name broad.

Big clubs from England and beyond - Palermo have been linked with the keeper - are aware of Gordon's fine form for club and country and Stewart (below) is convinced mega money bids will be tabled to test the Jambos' resolve. The ex-Rangers and St Mirren keeper, now coaching part time at Dundee, said: "Craig has been excellent for Scotland in the past five or six games.

"Against Slovenia at Hampden at the start of the World Cup qualifying campaign he made one or two wee mistakes. The good thing was he didn't go into a shell and let it get to him.

"He put it out of his mind and got on with his job. Craig has coped well with the pressure and will be hoping he can retain the Scotland position for many years.

"He certainly has the confidence and ability.

"I've worked with Craig on and off since he was starting out at Hearts on his first pro contract at the age of 16Energy "He was only 5ft 8in and Jim Jefferies and Billy Brown were worried he wouldn't grow. But he did and gained a right few inches.

"I suppose he grew so quickly all the energy went from him but he has worked hard on the physical side to build himself up and now really looks the part.

"Craig was given his chance in the first team when Craig Levein was manager.

"He gave him confidence by telling him he would get a good run in the side.

"It means so much to know you'll play every week rather than feeling you'll pay the ultimate price for one mistake.

"Craig has been outstanding and is making a good name for himself. I'm not trying to chase him out of Tynecastle but he might have a decision to make about where he will play his football in the future.

"He is good enough to go to England or abroad. There has never been a Scottish keeper at a high level on the continent and Craig could well become the first.

"Scottish keepers have a good reputation now because of the consistent form shown by Andy Goram and Jim Leighton for many years.

"They put to bed once and for all the theory that Scottish keepers are of a poor quality.

"That's what will open doors for Craig and others."

Stewart also works with David Marshall and feels the Celtic star will bounce back.

He said: "David faces tough competition to get back into the team ahead of Artur Boruc but has the mentality and ability to get there again."

Jim enjoys working with Gordon and Marshall but wishes he had more time to spend with them.

He said: "The boys will guide me on what they feel they need to do, work on any problems they might have.

"We look at video footage of how they have played and their positional work.

"And we will examine the opposition to see if we can spot pointers that will be beneficial in a match.

"So it's not all about being out on the training pitch and working with the ball, there's much more to it.

"I'd just like to be able to work with them more often.

"The country is lucky in that we now have many Scots keepers playing in the SPL whereas a few years ago there were loads of foreigners.

"Graeme Smith at Motherwell and Allan McGregor at Dunfermline are both playing well and will benefit from the experience of top team football.

"Mark Brown is also doing well at Inverness and Ryan Esson has been a regular for Aberdeen

Taken from the Sunday Mail