Former Scotland goalkeeper Cammy Bell insists veteran Craig Gordon deserves to get the nod for the nation’s World Cup opener against Haiti.
At 43, the Hearts keeper has battled through a catalogue of injuries during his career and has played very little club football this season.
However, Gordon has been backed to take the field for his country in Boston as they launch their Group C campaign during the early hours of Sunday morning.
Former Rangers keeper Bell, who saw at close hand how hard his international colleague worked to recover from a knee injury earlier in his career, told BBC Scotland Sport’s World Cup podcast: “I had a really good relationship with Craig at that point, I’d been in squads with him, so I saw him go through that difficult time.
“It’s hard to watch such a talented goalkeeper and a guy who is so determined – and a brilliant personality as a person as well, a great human being – go through such dark days.
“But again, this is why he went through them, this is why he’s come out into the light at the end of the tunnel, if you want to call it that.
“He’s worked ever so hard and he fully deserves this opportunity. Forty-three years old – he could have easily given up years ago and he didn’t.
“He’s so determined and he’s a brilliant goalkeeper, but also a great person, so I really do hope that Craig gets the nod because I think he fully deserves it – and for me, I think he’s the best choice for us as well.”
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Scotland boss Steve Clarke has named 84-times-capped Gordon, Angus Gunn, who was released by Nottingham Forest this week, and Liam Kelly of Rangers as his three goalkeepers for the tournament, although they made just seven club appearances between them during the domestic season which has just finished.
However, while aware of the merits of 30-year-olds Gunn and Kelly, Bell believes Gordon’s experience as well as quality will prove decisive.
“I’ve always said that I think Steve Clarke will go with Craig Gordon, purely on his experience and again from what we’ve seen when he’s had to step in in those big moments when he’s not had a lot of game-time in this similar situation,” Bell added.
“Yes, it’s not a World Cup, there’s not those pressures of it, but that’s why I think he will go with Craig Gordon, because this is a huge, huge moment for the country.
“This is a high-pressure environment that he’s going to go into, so you need somebody who’s calm and has got all those years of experience, and I think he’ll stick with Craig Gordon.”
