Craig Gordon: I'm working hard to come back 'better than I was' for Hearts

Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon says he’s determined to come back better than ever as he continues to work on recovering from serious injury.

The veteran keeper suffered a double leg break in the Christmas Eve fixture against Dundee United, with the severity of the injury leaving many question whether or not he would play again.

Gordon, who turned 40 at the end of the year, underwent surgery on a fibula and tibia break and stated his determination to return to playing.

Having progressed with his rehab, he says he accepts it’s a long road back but retains the same hunger to get back on the park.

“I had to do that very early, realise the severity of injury and know that this is not going to have a short term fix,” Gordon said. “So I’ve already done that.

“I know what’s going to be ahead of me. It’s going to be difficult, there will be difficult times ahead but at the moment, it’s going well and I’m looking forward to the challenge of trying to get back.”

Zander Clark has stepped up to wear the gloves at Tynecastle in Gordon’s absence but with the experienced Scotland international having the goal of coming back stronger than before, Clark will have a fight on his hands for a first team place.

“Putting on a Hearts jersey is the end goal and I’m trying to get back to where I was and if possible, even better than I was,” Gordon said. “So that’s the end goal at the moment.

“I’ve got lots of kind of short-term ones I have to try and go through first to get there. So I’ll just take it one stage at time and start doing things better in the gym.

“Once I can do that, I can start thinking of football-based activities. So yes, it’s just one more step I take.”