Gordon's warning for McGregor
by Brian Etherson, 23 March 2008
Sunderland and Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon has warned Allan McGregor that he has no intention of allowing him to waltz in to the Scotland set-up and steal the number 1 jersey from his grasp.
McGregor’s form this season has helped Rangers to domestic success already and kept them in the Uefa Cup with some stunning saves, but on the other side of the border, Gordon’s season has been a mixed one since his £9 million move to Sunderland and although he welcomes the challenge from McGregor, Gordon is fairly laid back about the whole situation.
“Of course I don’t want to give up my Scotland jersey and that would be the same, no matter who was pushing me,” Gordon told The Mail on Sunday. “I have not seen much Scottish football but I’m aware of how well Rangers are doing and the fact that they are the last British side left in the Uefa Cup.
“You can push positives for either one and say one is better than the other. There is always going to be an argument there but it’s down to the manager.”
The former Hearts keeper does admit that playing for Sunderland might take him out of the equation to an extent, but he reckons George Burley knows enough about him already to not worry about what he can do for the national side.
Gordon said: “At times, I can possibly be out of sight, out of mind at Sunderland but I have played for the manager in the past and he knows what I’m capable of.
“I’m sure if I get a chance to play for Scotland this week, I’ll show everyone what I can do. It is one game at a time. If I’m picked for the next game, then I would need to perform to my best to remind people what I can do.
“It doesn’t worry me at all.
“Allan is a quality goalkeeper and he will be in the squad fighting for his place, as will David Marshall, who has been playing regularly for Norwich.
“Allan has been in the squad for some time and I get on fine with him.”