Can wonder save pave way to fairytale six months for Gordon?

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It's fitting that prior to last Sunday's appearance, the last sighting of Craig Gordon in competitive action was against Denmark for Scotland. Even Hans Christian Andersen wouldn't have believed the plot we witnessed in the dying embers at Dens Park.

Called upon following a deserved red card for Alexander Schwolow, Gordon had a point to prove to a lot of doubters.

There's sceptics amongst the regulars at Tynecastle that at 43, auld Craigie's powers, which propelled him to being the UK's most expensive goalkeeper at age 24, were in serious decline.

The cruel lows in Gordon's rollercoaster career include arm fractures, knee injuries, a double leg break and as recently as last year, a shoulder injury. A lot of people would have conceded defeat after one of these setbacks – but not Gordon.

That save, in the dying embers of the match, just defies physics. Dundee striker Emile Acquah and the Dens support are probably still scratching their heads as to why the header didn't nestle in the net.

Gordon even said himself he didn't expect to get to it. And you do wonder if he's going to live out a fairytale six months.

He has the opportunity now to play two more games with Schwolow suspended and although most Jambos expect the German to line up against Celtic when available for selection, I wouldn't rule out Gordon.

There's no doubt he'll go down as a Gorgie great and he'll want to achieve more, especially with it being his testimonial year too.

The prize at stake for Gordon is the chance to lift silverware with his boyhood club – could it be a league title for the first time in 66 years or possibly a Scottish Cup, his second and making him one of a select few that has done so twice with Hearts?

There's also the chance of playing in a World Cup with Scotland. If he's getting games with Hearts regularly, it will be hard for Steve Clarke to ignore Gordon for the number one jersey.

You never want your keeper being too busy, but I'd love two well-earned clean sheets for Gordon and two wins in the next two games to give Derek McInnes a headache moving forward.

The year 2026 could produce a fairytale that can be told for generations and it's up to Gordon and the Hearts team to make it a reality.

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