THE BOY DAVID IS HAVING AN UGLY TIME OF IT

WHATEVER happened to the Likely Lads? Well, one has become his nation's No.1. The other has been shunted into the shadows.

Craig Gordon and David Marshall both rose to prominence by starring for their clubs in UEFA Cup ties two seasons ago. They were then fast-tracked into the Scotland squad at a combined age of 40.

I was with Celtic and Hearts in Barcelona and Bordeaux and remember the two keepers grabbing their European chance with both gloves.

Mark De Vries bundled in the goal that gave Hearts a famous victory in France but Gordon, then 21, stole the show with a heroic display.

Later that same season, at 18, Marshall was given his big moment. Rab Douglas was sent off in a half-time tunnel fracas at Celtic Park and the kid was pitched into action against Barcelona.

He kept a clean sheet in that first leg then achieved star status in the Nou Camp return. It was one of those performances that could possibly never be topped.

We will never know what would have happened if Barca had taken the lead when Ronaldinho opened up the Celtic defence to play in Gerard early on.

But Marshall made the first of several stunning saves and was a stick-on for man-of-the-match as Celtic progressed to the UEFA quarter finals.

The keeper collected another post-match bottle of champagne days later as the outstanding performer in his first Old Firm clash - a 2-1 win.

Yet Marshall was so calm after both games. It was as if he'd been walking the dog rather than playing in two of the most hostile atmospheres you can find.

The tributes and honours continued.

Marshall was capped twice and seemed set for a lengthy international career.

But Gordon has roared past him in the last two seasons and nailed down the Scotland No.1 jersey.

The Jambos star has already played 14 times for his country and will take some shifting.

Gordon has been a permanent fixture for Hearts in the last three seasons - that's the main reason why he's now so far ahead of Marshall.

Only a red card at Falkirk in October stopped him racking up 100 first-team games on the bounce. After serving that suspension he picked up exactly where he left off and is heading towards another century.

That prolonged run of exposure began in October 2003 when Gordon elbowed Tepi Moilanen out of the side.

With the greatest of respect to the Finn he's no Gianluigi Buff on but Gordon's current deputy Steve Banks is no mug.

Craig knows he has to maintain his high standards if he wants to stay in the Hearts side.

In contrast, Marshall is on the outside looking in. Having lost his place last season to Douglas he started this campaign as new manager Gordon Strachan's first choice.

He hauled the ball out of the net nine times in Celtic's first two games against Artmedia and Motherwell - but I don't remember any serious goalkeeping howlers.

What I can recall is some of the worst defending I've ever seen from a Celtic side.

Marshall can, and probably does, consider himself pretty unlucky to carry the can for the clear incompetence of the players in front of him.

He has been on the bench for the last 30 matches since Artur Boruc replaced him. The Polish international has been a polished performer for much of that time but the Celtic fans still need some convincing about his decision-making.

However, Boruc is an experienced international who plans to enhance his reputation at this summer's World Cup and Marshall is realistic about his short-term hopes of reclaiming the jersey.

That's why he's so desperate to go out on loan and reacquaint himself with first-team football.

So what's the difference between Gordon and Marshall? The simple answer, at the moment, is that the Hearts goalie is the better of the two. However, there are contributory factors.

Both have had their chance, of course, but when it comes to sustained opportunity it's better to be at Tynecastle than Celtic Park.

Marshall doesn't strike me as a quitter, though. Let's hope the friendly rivalry is in place again next season.

Taken from the Sunday Mail