CRAIG Gordon believes David Marshall has earned the right to keep his place in goal for Scotland against the Republic of Ireland and hopes to end his own four-year wait for a cap against England next week.
The Celtic and former Scotland No.1 has not played for his country since November 2010, having been stuck on 40 caps while his career was threatened by long-term arm and knee problems. In the 33 Scotland games since he played in a friendly against the Faroes, Allan McGregor has started 23 of them, Marshall nine and Matt Gilks one. Marshall is now the man in possession, having started all three of the Euro 2016 qualifiers so far, and he seems certain to be picked again to face the Irish at Parkhead on Friday.
Some had feared Gordon's two-year absence from football would mean he would never return, but his remarkable form with Celtic this season elevated him to a place in Gordon Strachan's squad last month and he was on the bench in Poland. Marshall conceded in the 2-2 draw but he could not be blamed and Gordon said his friend and rival deserved to keep his place.
"If I was in David's situation I would expect to keep my place. The competition is tough because there are a lot of good goalkeepers in Scotland at the moment. Whoever is playing well has a chance of playing, so we will wait and see.
"I thought Gordon would stick with David [in Poland]. He had a good game in Germany and in the couple of games before it he had been playing well for Cardiff. I was hoping I might have a chance of playing but I wasn't expecting it.
"There is that lingering little doubt in your mind. I hoped I might get a chance but you just continue doing the things I've been doing at Celtic and hope it comes."
Playing for Scotland again - perhaps in next Tuesday's friendly against England - would complete Gordon's return. "That is something I set myself as a target at the start of the season, to try to get back involved. I didn't set any time limits on it but it was always something I said I wanted to do if possible. So, yes, I think that would be a big boost for me. We'll see. I just have to keep playing as well as I can and we will see what happens."
A slight neck strain meant Gordon could not play against Aberdeen at the weekend but it was a minor problem given the issues he faced after leaving Sunderland in 2012. Having trained with Rangers last year - he and Ally McCoist have different versions of events regarding whether the club ever offered him a contract - Celtic provided the platform for his return to prominence. Gordon signed a two-year contract.
It was a speculative move for Celtic in the summer, a relatively low cost gamble, and soon it looked as though they had landed a highly valuable goalkeeper for nothing. Gordon will turn 32 next month, still young: if his fitness continues and his form carries on improving could he eventually be tempted back to the Barclays Premier League? "You have to be ambitious - and I certainly am - to do the best you can. Going back to England [one day] is a possibility.
"But I've only just started back so there is plenty of time for that. I'm past 30 now so I'm never going to be as quick as I was at 21 again.
"But in terms of my goalkeeping and decision making, that can all get better. I can improve. I can maybe get time back by prolonging my career towards the end.
"Really there is not an awful lot more I want to do. I don't want to test it too much and find I can't go that extra mile. I'm in a great place at the moment. If I can maintain that I would be very happy."
n Tickets for Scotland v England are available at www.scottishfa.co.uk or by calling 0844 8751873.
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