Pressley accepts that Gordon will go

STEVEN Pressley made a public acceptance yesterday of what has been a growing recognition for some time - that Hearts will not be able to hold on to Craig Gordon. The Tynecastle captain called Gordon the best goalkeeper he has ever worked with, and explained he thought him already good enough to become the first-choice No1 at England's leading clubs.

"Ultimately, he is going to make a move," Pressley said at the launch of the Hearts Supporters' Charter, a booklet which summarises what the club offers its fans and what standards of behaviour it expects in return. "There is no doubt about that and we should enjoy having him here while we do.

"It was important he signed a contract in the summer to remain at the club, because when he moves it is important he moves somewhere he is going to be the No1. There is no point in Craig Gordon moving and sitting on the bench for several years.

"In the last six months to a year, he has proved how good a goalkeeper he is. Even now if he was to move to the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, I think he would be going as their No1 goalkeeper and that is very important.

"It is also very important for the club. They have helped his progression and have given him an opportunity to show his quality. So, with him contracted to the club for another few years, the club will benefit financially from it. In the end, both parties will go away happy and it is inevitable it is going to happen at some point."

Gordon's excellence was showcased yet again in the 2-2 draw at Easter Road on Sunday when he preserved a point for his team by pulling off a last-gasp save from a header by the Hibs defender Rob Jones. Pressley revealed that the goalkeeper had not been fully fit for the match - and added with a laugh that the save would have been even better had Gordon been in peak condition.

"He was ill prior to the game on Sunday. If he was fit he'd have held it. He wasn't feeling 100 per cent and he was off for a couple of days to recharge his batteries.

"He's the best goalie I've ever seen by a long shot. I had so much admiration for Antti Niemi and Andy Goram when I was fortunate enough to work with them, and you think then you'll never experience a better goalkeeper, but he is the best I've ever seen. He's got every attribute. The one thing he has special over those two is his height and presence. He's a big lad, very athletic, he kicks the ball well with both feet - you can't see a weakness in him. He's a very sensible lad, he's got a good family, and he's very level-headed."

The Hearts coach, Valdas Ivanauskas, yet again made some perplexing changes to his starting line-up for the derby, but Pressley, who has previously called for consistency of selection, offered a qualified defence of the rotation policy.

"We're working hard with what team is put out, and at the moment we just have to get on with it. The luxury we have is the great depth of the squad. It's important you have a consistency within the team, and we have that to a certain degree as myself and Christophe Berra are playing generally, Craig and Paul Hartley are too, and, on the whole, Robbie Neilson is as well. So the spine is still there and gives an element of consistency."

Later, speaking on the club's website, heartsfc.co.uk Pressley also defended the one consistent selection which has been increasingly criticised lately - that of Saulius Mikoliunas. The winger has been off-form for weeks yet has kept being picked up to now, even if he is about to serve a suspension after being sent off in the second half on Sunday.

"What can't be overlooked in Saulius's displays is his work rate. He's never hidden, and has always looked to be involved. The more creative players in teams are the more inconsistent players. Defending and spoiling is the easier side of the game, so you get more consistency from those players than you do from those who create. Yes, a creative player might only go past his full-back once or twice in a match, but that could be the difference between winning and losing."

The belief that Mikoliunas is a weak link has led some supporters to boo his name when the teams are read out, but Pressley asked those fans to show patience. "Saulius is an extremely fit lad and gives the team good balance," he added. "He's still very, very young and is developing all the time. I'd call for supporters to back him, and if they do I think he'll continue to progress."

Taken from the Scotsman