Craig Gordon in race to be fit for Scotland's World Cup qualifier against Holland

09 January 2009 19:37
The former Hearts skipper is "miles away" from rejoining the first-team squad at Sunderland due to an ankle injury and that is bound to raise questions about his chances of facing the Dutch in Amsterdam on March 28.[LNB]Gordon was the subject of a gloomy prognosis by Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia who pledged to be patient with his compatriot who last played in Roy Keane's last game in charge when Bolton triumphed 4-1 on Wearside six weeks ago.[LNB]"There is a concern about pushing him too much," Sbragia said. "We don't want to push him back to the start and leave him with seven or eight weeks more out. He's happy with it, he went to see a specialist and he's OK.[LNB]"He's had an ankle injury and was rushed back too quickly. He's not had surgery – he was told to have two to three weeks' complete rest which he's now had.[LNB]"The soreness round the joint has gone away which is important. He's doing gym work and spinning and a little bit of handling. He's miles away from joining us in the squad, though." [LNB]Gordon is not even guaranteed a first-team berth according to Sbragia who added: "He's going to have to play some sort of reserve football before he can come back to the first team – get some match practice.[LNB]"But Marton Fulop has done extremely well for me in the wake of Craig's injury and he's given me a problem when Craig does come back. The one that comes in, stays in." [LNB]

Source: Telegraph