Craig Gordon saves Steve Bruce a new signing

Nov 3 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

Gordon has probably benefited from the arrival of a new goalkeeping coach in the form of Spink, who joined Sunderland from Wigan as part of Bruce’s trusted backroom staff.

Having helped Chris Kirkland recover his form and fitness at Wigan, Spink appears to be aiding the renaissance of Gordon’s form for club and country.

“(Nigel) Spink has worked hard with him,” Bruce said. “With the injury, we have made sure we have not rushed him back because that would have been quite easy, but may have run the risk of him suffering another injury.”

The revival of Gordon’s form has not gone unnoticed in his native land, where his performances were a rare bright spot in an otherwise depressing World Cup qualification campaign.

In the wake of Scotland banning Allan McGregor from playing for his country again, Gordon has become a vital part of the national side. Indeed, his performances have been so solid that one of his international predecessors, Andy Goram, believes that Gordon will be tapped up by Manchester United when Edwin van der Sar retires.

“Craig has been at clubs where he makes 10 saves a game but needs to be in a team where he has to make that one stop,” former Rangers keeper Goram said. “I’m talking about a top-four club in England.

“I could see him as a replacement for Edwin at United because he has the height, physique and experience.”

Meanwhile, Andy Reid – again inexplicably overlooked by his country for of their World Cup play-offs against France – dedicated Saturday’s fightback to boss Bruce for “breathing new life” into the club.

He said: “We owed the gaffer a performance on Saturday.

“Last season, never mind two-nil down, if we’d gone one-nil down I don’t think we would have come back.

“That was the mentality around the place. The new manager has given us a new lease of life. He’s been brilliant.”