Unhappy Craig Gordon sits out Scotland qualifier

Mar 26 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

GEORGE Burley further undermined Ricky Sbragia’s hopes of keeping goalkeeper Craig Gordon this summer, by leaving the 26-year-old out of Scotland’s team to face Holland on Saturday.

The former Roker Park full-back has opted for Allan McGregor in the World Cup qualifier, citing Gordon’s lack of club football as the reason.

The match is crucial to Scotland’s chances of playing in South Africa next summer, and Burley’s choice of goalkeeper was always likely to have a huge bearing on the prospects of Gordon remaining at Sunderland next season.

Britain’s most expensive goalkeeper has only played twice since injuring his ankle in October. Burley and Gordon have both voiced their discomfort about the lack of opportunities afforded to the former Hibernian player in that time, but Black Cats manager Sbragia has stayed loyal to Márton Fülöp.

The Hungarian made a costly error in the 2-0 defeat at Liverpool earlier this month, but Sbragia resisted the temptation to drop him, arguing it would not be fair to oust him for an isolated incident merely to keep Gordon content.

Nevertheless, he claimed he was happy with both goalkeepers, and did not want either to leave in the summer. He even floated the possibility of rotating the pair in an attempt to give them both some first-team football, though he has not done so yet.

He also suggested the pair would start afresh in pre-season, with whoever performed best in that time starting 2009-10 as first choice.

But now Gordon’s club situation is affecting his international career, it seems unlikely he will take the risk of holding Sbragia to his word. Burley certainly left him in no doubt that was the reason for his latest omission. “There has been a

lot of talk, a lot of speculation, people talking about the pros and cons of who to play,” the Scotland boss acknowledged.

“I had a chat with both goalkeepers on Tuesday, and both were pushing for the number one spot.

“Allan McGregor will play because Craig has not been playing first-team football.

“Craig is a magnificent goalkeeper but Allan did well against Argentina and he has been playing well for Rangers. Allan is excited at the prospect.

“It was important to make this decision now and not later. Allan deserves a chance and he will start in Holland.” Gordon moved to Sunderland from Heart of Midlothian in 2007 for a record fee of around £9m. He was dropped by Roy Keane last season after conceding seven goals at Everton, but he was back four games later.

This time around he returned for November’s 4-1 defeat at home to Bolton Wanderers in Keane’s last match as manager, but aggravated the ankle problem in the process. His only game since was in an FA Cup repay at Blackburn Rovers where Sbragia fielded a weakened side.

Despite Sbragia’s public stance, a transfer request from Gordon might not be entirely unwelcome. The Black Cats may have to make further cutbacks to their squad this summer in light of the credit crunch and if he is confined to the bench, some on the board may view Gordon as an expensive luxury.

Meanwhile, Sbragia has admitted he may need to put Kenwyne Jones on the bench when Sunderland return to action against West Ham on April 4.

Jones is struggling for form and has been playing with a slight knee injury for several weeks. Despite five goals in his first six appearances this season, he has managed just one in his last seven games, and his all-round game looks jaded.

Sbragia said: “Kenwyne is tired. He’s come back well for us, but he’s had a lot of games and maybe it is beginning to show.”