CRAIG'S CREME DE LA PREM

JIM JEFFERIES last night claimed Craig Gordon would walk into any side in the Premiership if he opted to make the switch south.

The Kilmarnock boss will take his side to Tynecastle tomorrow to face the Hearts stopper but it didn't stop him praising his former protege.

Record Sport revealed this week that Manchester United and Arsenal are on the trail of Scotland's No.1 and Jefferies has no doubt Gordon is ready to step up in class.

The Killie boss said: "Craig might feel he needs a few more years but there isn't any doubt that he'll end up at a top club whether it's now or in a couple of years' time.

"I'm not going to make that decision for him but right now, with his ability, he'd command a first-team place in any of the top teams in England.

"Time after time Craig will pull Hearts - or whatever team he's with - out of a hole because he has such a tremendous reach and a good pair of hands.

"I don't think he would go anywhere to be second choice as he's good enough right now to go in and play - that's how good he is, having watched him and had my team play against him.

"He's the best goalkeeper around and certainly one of the best I've seen in my time. He's one of the major reasons Hearts have done well over the past few seasons.

"Craig is a terrific keeper who gives his team-mates such confidence. He's difficult to beat and doesn't lose many soft goals. It takes a very good finish and a good move to beat him.

"His save against Hibs in the last minute was unbelievable and that's what he's capable of.

"I always used to say about keepers that there are times when you can't blame them for certain goals but I like to judge them on how many times they pull you out of trouble.

"I've worked with some keepers I couldn't fault for losing goals as they had no right to make the save. With others like Craig, you wonder just how they makes some of their saves."

Jefferies revealed just how close Hearts were to cutting a young Gordon loose after the then Hearts boss was asked to make a decision on his future.

He said: "There was a debate as to whether we'd keep him as he was too wee. It was between John McGlynn, our scout John Murray and myself.

"We looked at his dad, who was a big lad, and felt Craig might grow late. Although he had the ability, we didn't know if he'd have the physique to make the first-team.

"It's just shows that you can't make judgments too early. Both Johns put up a good argument why we should keep him but it wasn't a huge decision to be honest.

"We gave him another season and when he started to shoot up we knew we had a goalkeeper on our hands.

"We discussed who we were going to keep and it's turned out fantastically well. He'll end up at the very top.

"He made his debut at Falkirk when Hearts lost 4-0 and was left out for the following game but that's what happens with young players.

"He was just into the team and one of the things that helped him was he knew the next time he got his chance he'd have to take it."

Taken from the Daily Record