According to Jambos head coach Neil Critchley, Zander Clark’s new deal with Hearts has no influence on the future of current Scotland No. 1 Craig Gordon at Tynecastle.
Hearts entered the new year with both goalkeepers in the final six months of their existing contracts. Clark, 32, has been Gordon’s understudy this season, and amid speculation of a move to Edinburgh rivals Hibs, the former St Johnstone player signed a new two-year contract earlier this week. There has been no update on Gordon, who turned 42 at the end of December.
Gordon has re-established himself as first choice for both club and country, while Clark, who represented Scotland at the European Championships last summer, is now completely out of the international picture. Critchley did not say if Clark will make a rare start for Hearts in Friday’s Scottish Cup match at Brechin City, but he did say that his extension does not affect negotiations with Gordon.
“No, Craig is unaffected by Zander’s situation,” Critchley explained. “Craig is visibly separated. We simply have strong competition in that area of the pitch. Zander’s presence here helps to push Craig, and vice versa.
“We are extremely fortunate to have such excellent goalkeepers. Craig is in a separate circumstance, therefore what happens to Zander has no bearing on Craig’s future.
Critchley said it was “not too difficult” to persuade Clark to stay despite the fact that he had not played in five months. “I’ve had some good conversations with Zander since I’ve been here, and I’ve been nothing but impressed with him as a person, as a custodian,” Critchley added.
“It hasn’t been easy for him because I know how he performed and what he accomplished last season, but he’s handled it (not playing) like a great professional. He’s a fantastic person to be around, always upbeat. “I see him as part of Hearts’ future.”
Critchley is still working to bolster his team during his first transfer window at Tynecastle. He has already signed attacker Elton Kabangu on loan from Union Saint-Gilloise and defender Jamie McCart from Rotherham. Another centre-half, Austrian Michael Steinwender from Swedish club IFK Varnamo, is set to arrive over the weekend.
“Close, close, yeah,” Critchley remarked about his search for a new defence. “We’re talking to someone and pursuing something, but nothing has been completed, and I won’t be speaking about it any more until it is. I’m not going to mention his name because it would be inappropriate.”
Hearts have been connected with a deal for 25-year-old Kazakhstan international winger Islam Chesnokov, who currently plays for Tobol Kostanay in his home country, but Critchley stated, “No, that is not close to being completed.” Throughout January, we are linked to a large number of participants.
“We are doing a lot of work behind the scenes. We are discussing a large number of players. We’ve identified specific parts of the pitch where we want to bring guys in. Obviously, there are two weeks still in the window, so let’s see where we stand in 14 days.”
