Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon knows exactly how Rangers counterpart Jack Butland feels.
The life of a goalkeeper can be a troubling one with only one position on the pitch and rotation a cliched no-no which rarely breeds positive results.
It means that goalkeepers are tasked in their careers with finding a number one jersey which suits them at the right moment and really, it’s a game of patience and self-belief.
Having just battled back from a devastating cruciate ligament injury which threatened to end his career, Craig Gordon has been talking about Jack Butland’s impact at Rangers.
Ahead of the Scottish Cup semi-final, it’s clear the 41-year-old Scotland international is a big fan of the England Euro 2024 hopeful.
But Gordon is praying for a rare off-day as the Edinburgh outfit travel to Glasgow for a shot at glory.
Craig Gordon hails Jack Butland
Craig Gordon was well aware of Jack Butland’s qualities well before the goalkeeper joined Rangers.
The former Celtic goalkeeper was once amongst British football’s most sought after goalies and knew all about Super Jack well before he earned that moniker at Ibrox.
Claiming that Butland was always tipped to be a future England stopper, Gordon has praised the goalie for coming through the adversity of the last few seasons.
Without an England call-up in over five years, Butland is back in Southgate’s reckoning after seasons warming the benches of some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.
“You know of people coming through in your position and Jack was always highly talked about as a future England goalkeeper,” said Gordon, as quoted by the Daily Record.
“I always knew his qualities. Things started really well for him then he had a couple of blips.
“His career down south maybe stalled a little bit. Injuries are part of football – they happen. It’s all about how you battle back from them, not let them define you and be stronger than you were before.
“He played a couple of seasons as second or even third-choice at clubs. Jack obviously has a very good mentality to come through everything and play to the levels he has this season.”
Hearts goalkeeper on Rangers ‘match-winner’
Talking about the impact of Jack Butland this season, Craig Gordon has claimed that the Rangers stopper is feeling the benefit of increased first-team exposure.
Admitting that the 31-year-old has been “brilliant” this season, the Hearts veteran reckons the goalkeeper is an Ibrox match-winner.
But whilst it’s all been very positive from Gordon, he’s hoping for a rare off day from his Rangers counterpart later this afternoon.
“Now you see his talent coming through and the confidence he has gained from playing every week at Rangers,” said Gordon.
“He has been a vitally important player for them, keeping them in games with match-winning performances.
“To play regularly and in Europe shows what he’s capable of – and he has a possibility of still making the England squad for the Euros. He’s had a brilliant season and it shows how successful a move it has been.
“So full credit to Jack for battling back from all the adversities that can go on in a football career. He’s playing top level again – and he has been very good. It’s fantastic for him. I just hope that we can stick a few past him and get through to the final.”
Rangers signed Jack Butland in the summer following the expiration of his contract at Crystal Palace and has emerged as a key leader in the squad.
