Heart of Midlothian

Steve Clarke will select Craig Gordon as his first-choice goalkeeper for the World Cup if the injured 43-year-old recovers in time for the summer, says former Scotland international Cammy Bell.

The Hearts man has played just three times this season, finding himself down the pecking order at Tynecastle amid a campaign plagued by fitness problems.

The veteran goalkeeper produced one of the saves of the season in the Scottish Premiership leaders' vital victory at Dundee in January, but he has featured just twice since.

Angus Gunn, who is also struggling for minutes at club level, was restored to Clarke's line-up for Scotland's friendly defeat to Japan on Saturday.

However, former Hearts player Bell believes Gordon will get the gloves if he can return from a shoulder issue by the time the Scots jet off to the US in June.

"If Craig Gordon's fit for the World Cup, I think Craig Gordon will play," Bell said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Yes, it would be ideal if Craig can get a few games under his belt before then, but if that doesn't happen, I really don't think that affects Steve's decision too much.

"He handles the pressure games really well. He's still a top, top goalkeeper. I think it's also that experience he's got as well.

"But it's good to have Angus Gunn playing. He did well on Saturday again - some decent saves and everything that was asked of him he did very tidily. He looked very confident within the game as well.

"We would expect him to play again on Tuesday night. I think if we can get as much game time as possible into Gunn before the World Cup, it sets us up in a better place to have Angus and Craig there to fight it out."

Hearts' fringe players are learning from this season's title fight in order to make an impact next season. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Yan Dhanda, who is out on loan from Hearts, believes he has become a more complete player at Dundee. (Courier - subscription required), external

Saturday's Scottish gossip

BBC Scotland's Edinburgh football reporter Brian McLauchlin has been answering some of your questions on Hearts.

Alan asked: If Hearts are still top at the split, will we be given a home match for the last game of the season?

Leo asked: What's the likelihood of Hearts facing Rangers for the last match of the season at Tynecastle? Can the Jambos hold under such pressure?

Brian answered: Hi Alan and Leo, with the top six almost decided the SPFL will have been burning the midnight oil regarding how these post-split fixtures will work.

One thing for sure is Rangers will be visiting Tynecastle and Hearts will make trips to both Celtic Park and Easter Road.

By the time the split comes both Motherwell and Falkirk will have been to Tynecastle twice this season. One of them, most likely Falkirk, will be returning for a third time to ensure Hearts end the season having played 19 matches at home and the same number on the road.

As for Rangers coming to Tynecastle on the last day for what could be a title shootout, it would be the biggest game in years.

Steve asked: While Marc Leonard has been a fantastic singing, I don't see how he plays in a team with a fit Cammy Devlin. Beni Baningime adjusted to how Cammy plays and they complemented each other but against Dundee our midfield was static. So who plays in the middle?

Brian answered: There is no doubt Leonard has been an excellent addition to the squad since joining on loan from Birmingham City.

The injuries to both Baningime and Devlin came at the wrong time for the club and along with Tomas Magnusson, Leonard has proved more than capable in this key area of the pitch.

For me a fit Baningime and Devlin would always be a starting pair in that area, but with both out of contract come the end of this season - and should Leonard decide Tynecastle is where his future lies - this could sway the manager.

Whoever is chosen will know exactly what is required in the remaining seven games.

This is your Hearts page. Bookmark it, or if you're logged in on the BBC Sport app, press the bell icon at the top and select news alerts. If you're signed in on a browser, press 'follow' and you'll start seeing more Hearts content when on the site.

BBC Scotland's Edinburgh football reporter Brian McLauchlin has been answering some of your questions on Hearts.

Fergus asked: Do you think Jamestown Analytics' model is a success at Tynecastle and how do you view it long term? We have seen the good and bad this season and also the unexplainable - Rogers Mato brought in under a fanfare and has barely kicked a ball.

Tom asked: Other than Claudio Braga and Alexandros Kyziridis, do you think Jamestown Analytics has been a success, especially as the spine of the team was already there last season?

Brian answered: Very similar questions here. I think Jamestown Analytics has been a huge success this season and is the envy of every other club in Scottish football.

Without it the chances of Hearts identifying Braga would have been slim to zero and while others may be taking time to settle they have mostly all contributed to a sensational campaign.

The age of some of these players is an indication they have yet to reach their peak. Kyziridis is 25, Braga 26, Mato 22, Pierre Kabore 24, Islam Chesnokov 26 and Jordi Altena 22.

All these players are arguably sellable assets for a profit. And with the Jamestown model being to sell for a profit and reinvest to bring in even better quality, it all seems to be working as expected.

No system, however, can claim 100% every player will be a success. The hefty investment in Ageu is yet to prove value for money and he has been plagued by injuries. By and large this model tends to get more right than wrong in the long term.

Dave asked: Do you think Stuart Findlay, Lawrence Shankland and Cameron Devlin will all start against Livingston? Or, given the plastic pitch, do they start on the bench rather than being risked?

Brian answered: Given the enormity of the upcoming matches it would be foolish for Derek McInnes to throw all his recently-injured players straight back into the starting 11 against Livingston.

However, with Devlin coming through the majority of the win against Dundee unscathed and Shankland also making his comeback, I'm pretty sure both will play a major part in the game.

Findlay has been out for over a month so it would be a risk throwing him straight back into the team.

However, with Harry Milne also likely to be available this would allow Jamie McCart to slot into the centre-back role alongside a hopefully fully-fit Craig Halkett. Training next week will dictate who exactly McInnes will have at his disposal.

Visit here again on Friday for more answers to your questions. This is your Hearts page. Bookmark it, or if you're logged in on the BBC Sport app, press the bell icon at the top and select news alerts. If you're signed in on a browser, press 'follow' and you'll start seeing more Hearts content when on the site.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow may just be the unsung hero of Hearts' impressive league campaign.

The 33-year-old joined from Union Berlin in the summer and has featured in 26 games for the Premiership leaders.

Prior to his Tynecastle switch, Schwolow spent his entire career in Germany but has settled in nicely to life in Edinburgh.

He has kept 13 clean sheets in the league - only Motherwell's Calum Ward (17) has more - and his 17 goals conceded is the lowest of any goalkeeper who has played comparable minutes.

Similarly, Schwolow's 76.1% save rate is only bettered by Ward (77.8%) and Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland (77.6%).

With just seven league games to go Hearts have a three-point lead at the top and Schwolow has stressed the importance of the fans in the run-in.

"I think people underestimate how important that is for us players on the pitch because you feel the tension you feel if the crowd is nervous," he told HeartsTV, external.

"I can just tell you feel it on the pitch, and the fans have been amazing, supporting us.

"Although we sometimes haven't played the best football, they had our back and I think that's the reason why we could always bounce back, especially, for example, after the defeat in Kilmarnock.

"They don't blame us they don't shout at us; they still have the faith in us and that's what we need."

Hearts are bracing themselves to lose one of their brightest young talents, with Arsenal and Manchester City leading Premier League interest in 17-year-old defender Alfie Osborne. (TeamTalk), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Paulo Sergio - the last manager to lead Hearts to silverware - has called for calm heads from the "nervous" support as the club close in on a first top-flight title in 66 years.

The 58-year-old Portuguese has remained an avid Hearts fan since his year in charge, which culminated in the 5-1 rout of Hibernian in 2012 to lift the Scottish Cup.

Sergio was at back Tynecastle for Saturday's 1-0 home win over Dundee but detected a tension in the stands.

"At the moment I think there is a lot of stress because of the great opportunity they have in their hands," he said.

"I would like the fans to control their stress and do their part. Sing more, support more, believe even more because with this great chance, everybody in the stand is very nervous, so sometimes they forget the role that they have to do.

"I think they need to keep positive and singing for the team, that will help the boys a lot. Also the boys need to focus on what they have to do. Don't be thinking about the position because sometimes this brings stress.

"Sometimes you go on the pitch thinking, 'what happens if we don't win and the other teams win?'.

"And this doesn't allow you to have a clear mind and perform. Just be focused on what you can control, which is your performance, and the points will come naturally."

Sergio says Hearts - three points clear of Rangers and five ahead of Celtic with seven games remaining - deserve to end 40 years of Old Firm title dominance.

"I don't see other ones doing better," he said. "The team has been in first place all season. In my opinion, they deserve to stay there until the end.

"It's a season where Celtic and Rangers are not performing at the level we are used to seeing. But credit to Hearts, they have almost 70 points. This speaks about what Derek [McInnes] and all the people involved are doing.

"I hope they can keep this run and make some history for the club."

Sergio admits he was not aware of countryman Claudio Braga until the impressive Portuguese forward's Hearts switch last summer.

"I'm very happy with that," he said of 15-goal Braga.

"I didn't know the boy before but now he's at Hearts, I'm aware of the capacity of Claudio and I wish him the best.

"Normally our TV in Portugal shows Celtic or Rangers, but this season, they are showing the games of Hearts too. Then people start knowing Braga here in Portugal and start speaking about him. He will be remembered forever if we keep this position."

What would you like to ask our Edinburgh football reporter Brian McLauchlin about Premiership leaders Hearts as they edge closer to the title?

He is in the hotseat, ready to answer your questions and offer his insight and opinion on your club.

Put your questions to Brian here.

Hearts coaches will seek to replicate a match scenario for fringe players and those returning from injury during the international break. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Hibernian head coach David Gray sees progress in his side this season but accepts there is "more noise" towards Hibs with Hearts sitting top of the Scottish Premiership. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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Top of the league by the March international break. Influential midfielder Cammy Devlin is back. And, more crucially, captain and talismanic striker Lawrence Shankland is available again.

Sidelined since January with a hamstring injury, Shankland made his return from the bench in Saturday's narrow win over Dundee.

Although the 30-year-old forward did not provide the decisive moment, his 36-minute cameo highlighted why his comeback is so important for Hearts' title charge.

"Even in the small moments Shankland was involved in, you could see his link-up play," former Hearts head coach Steven Naismith said on BBC's Sportscene.

"His game intelligence was on show and I think that will be big in the coming weeks."

Shankland's relentless scoring form in recent seasons has often meant his link-up play goes under the radar.

He misplaced just one of his 11 passes on Saturday and boasted 100% accuracy in the final third - seven out of seven completed - which allowed Hearts to sustain pressure before Oisin McEntee's winner.

Shankland also had more shots on goal than fellow forward Pierre Landry Kabore and found the target more often than Claudio Braga despite fewer minutes on the pitch.

His influence also becomes clearer when dissecting Hearts' record with and without the striker this season. Their win rate plummets from 73% to 44%.

While Derek McInnes' side have managed to stay top of the tree during Shankland's absence, they lost four of their five league matches without him.

Hearts failed to score in three of those five games without their captain - recent defeats at St Mirren and Kilmarnock (during a spell when Devlin was also missing), plus November's loss at Aberdeen.

With Shankland in the side, McInnes' men have failed to score only once in 18 matches - a goalless draw at Fir Park.

The forward will miss Scotland's upcoming fixtures against Japan and Ivory Coast, instead using the international break to build his fitness ahead of key club matches against Livingston and Motherwell before the league split.

"I've got a bit of time now without games, so I'll use it to get myself in the best shape possible," he told BBC Scotland after the match on Saturday.

"It'll be a lot of hard work over the next couple of weeks, but I'm looking forward to getting back into the fixtures."

Former Scotland midfielder Kevin Thomson says Hearts' recent home results are the sign of "a real good team".

Derek McInnes' side have had four straight home victories in the Scottish Premiership, amid three consecutive away defeats.

They lead the top flight by three points from Rangers and by five from Celtic.

Key duo Cammy Devlin and Lawrence Shankland were back in the squad for Saturday's win over Dundee and Thomson believes they will be vital during the run-in.

"They have had a wonderful season, been there for the majority it, they have been there to be shot at," Thomson told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"They continue to find ways of winning games of football, which is a great habit to have. I think that's four 1-0 wins at Tynecastle in their past four home games, which is normally a sign of a real good team, because you can't always play well, it can't always be perfect.

"Obviously having some of their big stars out injured - Cammy Devlin and Lawrence Shankland - they have done incredibly well to stay right in the fight right up until the end. And I certainly wouldn't bet against them, that's for sure."

Image source, SNS

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

GK: Raphael Sallinger (Hibernian)

Not a vintage weekend for goalkeepers, so three saves and a clean sheet wins it for the Hibs custodian.

RCB: James Tavernier (Rangers)

Can Rangers really afford to lose the goals this right-back gives them every season? Not getting any younger but still delivers, as his free-kick against Aberdeen demonstrated.

CB: Ross Graham (Dundee United)

A lion at the back for United against Celtic. Stifled all the defending champions could throw at him, clean sheet and three points that keep United's slim top-half hopes alive. The perfect riposte to his derby day dejection.

LCB: Liam Donnelly (St Mirren)

The midfielder played on the right of a back three for St Mirren and shone defensively as well as scoring the winner. A big three points away to Falkirk.

RWB: Oisin McEntee (Hearts)

Towering header the decisive moment for Hearts to break the deadlock against Dundee. His physicality and power make him a huge threat at set-pieces.

CM: Marc Leonard (Hearts)

A different kind of midfielder to Cammy Devlin but arrived at the right time to fill the void left by the Australian this season. His delivery for McEntee's vital goal was right on the money.

CM: Emmanuel Agyei (Dundee United)

A robust and dynamic performance from the Ghanaian, topped off with a huge goal.

LWB: Will Ferry (Dundee United)

Normally all about the delivery, but Sunday was all about the finish from Ferry, which opened the scoring against Celtic. Not the cleanest of strikes but it doesn't matter. Remarkably his first United goal.

RW: Findlay Curtis (Kilmarnock)

Going to Kilmarnock was the best thing that happened to Steve Clarke, and the same for Curtis. Their paths will now cross in the Scotland camp, and rightly so. Curtis always looked like he had the talent, Kilmarnock are giving him the stage and all parties are benefitting. Scored the second in the big 2-0 win over Livingston.

CF: Joe Hugill (Kilmarnock)

An impressive showing topped with a goal from the former Manchester United youngster, and an assist for Curtis.

LW: Mikey Moore (Rangers)

The 18-year-old clearly had a lot of talent when he arrived at Ibrox, but in recent times he has stepped it up a level and delivered with consistency as Rangers continue their late charge for the title.

Watch 10-man Hearts return to winning ways at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a narrow win over Dundee.

Available in UK only

We asked you Hearts fans for your views on the 1-0 win over Dundee that set the pace at the top of the table. Here's a taste of what you had to say...

Kris: You could instantly see what a difference Lawrence Shankland made to the way we play. He holds up better than Pierre Landry Kabore, finishes better, links play better and brings out the best in Claudio Braga and Alexandros Kyziridis too! He and Cammy Devlin coming back are massive, as we deserved nothing at half-time and then deserved our (albeit narrow) win.

Alan: Kudos to Michael Steinwender. Played out of position this season, and he's really taken one for the team. Against Dundee, he got played in his normal position and was a real unsung hero. When we win this league, I hope Michael holds the trophy high above his head and we celebrate what he's given to us - his all.

Graham: Brilliant win, thought we controlled the game for the majority but never looked like finding the net. Credit to Dundee who stuck to their gameplan well. Marc Leonard's free kick and Oisin McEntee's header were quality, and reminded me of Kevin Kyle's winner v Hibs in 2011. Bring on the next game.

Chris: When you rock up and play for a draw, as Dundee did, then get beaten 1-0 by a set play - some would call that karma. We were devoid of ideas today and McEntee has saved us with a great header as I couldn't see us scoring from open play. Seven to go.

Steve: I genuinely can't remember the last time we played well, our football is so slow and predictable. Dundee pass the ball three times and get a corner. We pass the ball 20 and are still in our own half. Our physio room is going to be busier than the stands at this rate.

Alfred: Incredibly grateful for the three points as logically that's all that matters just now but the football is regressing and the tactics seem non-existent. Derek McInnes needs to regain his composure and get the players ticking again. Hard stuff to watch but I'd rather win playing poorly than lose playing well.

Peter: We have a lot of injuries and that's playing out on the field. In turn the football is hard to watch. Some players seem low on confidence which is crazy to say. I've never been so happy to have two weeks off. Now to enjoy the view from the top.

Thomas: We can pass a ball upwards of 20 times and be back further than where we started. That slow, across-the-back, side-to-side football drains the life out of you and gets us nowhere. Lost our last two games on plastic pitches and played poorly and I don't see that changing against Livi.

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Hearts head coach Derek McInnes: "Really pleased with the outcome. It was a tight game. We've lost one goal in four games, and that was last week at Kilmarnock.

"We've done a lot right to get our clean sheet, it doesn't come by chance. I thought we were the better team, but I'd like us to be a bit more dominant in terms of creating chances.

"We should've asked the question a bit more. Because when we did put the ball in the box it caused them a bit of stress and uncertainty.

"I thought Leonard and Devlin ran the game, we were just looking for a bit more quality at the top end of the pitch.

"The quality comes from a set play - they have been so important for us. We spoke yesterday at the team meeting about can we be the best team at set-plays between now and the end of the season?

"We're off to a good start. Delighted for Ross [Grant], my set-piece coach, because it's not been easy when the finger is being pointed.

"It's a brilliant header from big Oisin [McEntee]. A great cross from Marc Leonard. Quality and determination has won the game for us."

Oisin McEntee's towering header gave leaders Hearts a vital victory over Dundee to ensure they head into the international break top of the Scottish Premiership.

Have your say on Hearts' performance.

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Hearts welcome back Cammy Devlin and Lawrence Shankland but Tomas Magnusson is out with a broken cheekbone and Beni Baningime (knee) and Harry Milne (calf) face late checks.

Stephen Kingsley (calf), Craig Gordon (shoulder), Ageu (thigh), Stuart Findlay, Calem Nieuwenhof and Finlay Pollock (all hamstring) are still unavailable.

Dundee defender Clark Robertson is in contention to return after a thigh injury, so Yan Dhanda - ineligible to face his parent club - might be the only absentee.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Cammy Devlin is putting contract talks aside to focus on his return from injury and Hearts' title pursuit.

The Australia midfielder has been out with an ankle injury since mid-January but, along with striker Lawrence Shankland, is available to make his comeback in Saturday's home game against Dundee.

"I'm really happy to be back," Devlin, 27, said.

"I've found it quite tough in terms of just being away from doing what you love, especially with how everything was going this season.

"But this is part and parcel of football. You've got to overcome challenges all the time and injuries are part of it.

"I haven't enjoyed it at all so to be on the other side of it now, out of that physio room and back with my mates on the grass, has been really exciting.

"That was always my focus, just do everything in my power to come back in the best possible way I can."

Devlin, who joined the club in 2021, is out of contract at the end of the season and still has to decide where his future lies.

The midfielder has ambitions to play in the Champions League and should Hearts win the Premiership it would put them in the play-off round for next season's tournament, while the runners-up will go into the second qualifying round.

Devlin admits that tournament could be pivotal to what he decides this summer.

"I think growing up as an Aussie from the other side of the world the Champions League is something you would wake up at four or five in the morning to watch on the telly," he said.

"So I think that's a massive, massive carrot because that would be a dream come true for not just me, but for any player that is here I'm sure.

"In terms of right now my focus is on just getting back fit, playing for Hearts, seeing what we can do, and then I'm sure that stuff will come into play at the end of the season.

"The Champions League would be so special, so cool, and something we believe we can do. So fingers crossed.

"We're working ever so hard to make it happen, but there's 24 points left to play for. There's a lot of twists and turns left in this title race and the fact I can say we're a part of it is cool in itself."

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• Since the start of February, Hearts have scored five league goals from 77 shots, a conversion rate of 6.5% - the lowest of any side in the competition in this time. Their xG/shot of 0.076 is also the lowest of any side in the top flight in this period. Meanwhile, Dundee top both of these metrics since 1 February (15.2% conversion, 0.129 xG/shot).

• Dundee are unbeaten in five league games (W2 D3), last going longer without defeat in the Scottish Premiership from January to February 2015 (eight).

• Hearts have won seven of their past nine league meetings with Dundee (L2), keeping a clean sheet in the latest five of those wins, including both this season (4-0 in November, 1-0 in January).

• Dundee have lost four of their past five Scottish Premiership trips to Hearts, winning the other 1-0 in April 2025.

• Each of Hearts' last three home league games have ended in 1-0 wins; they last won four in a row on home soil in the Premiership without conceding in March 2016.

Hearts' need to pay a fee for to make Marc Leonard a permanent signing is not an insurmountable hurdle, but matching his salary would be considerably more difficult and the 24-year-old on-loan midfielder says his focus is fulfilling the remaining years of his contract with Birmingham City. (Edinburgh Evening News)

Read all of Friday's Scottish Gossip

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Hearts head coach Derek McInnes is "disappointed" but "not surprised" none of his players were called up by Scotland for this month's friendlies against Japan and Ivory Coast.

Striker Lawrence Shankland has only just returned to fitness while fellow squad regular, goalkeeper Craig Gordon, is sidelined with a shoulder issue.

Scotland boss Steve Clarke also omitted Harry Milne and Craig Halkett, who were tipped for inclusion after shining in the Premiership leaders' defence this season.

McInnes said: "Surprised, probably not. Disappointed, yeah, absolutely.

"I think we've been a really strong team this season and there's been key players within it.

"My opinion doesn't matter, I don't really like people telling me what players to pick in my team and the only opinion that matters is Steve but it doesn't mean to say I think he's right with it.

"I do think I've got players that have earned the opportunity to be part of an international set-up but hopefully the lads' motivation keeps going, they keep doing well and hopefully in time that they get there, that's the hope.

"I speak to the lads regularly about it and I do believe that we have got players who could represent the country, there's no question of that to me.

"While there's disappointment that they're not in this squad, you all know how things can change and whether it's through injury or whatever it will be, players get opportunity.

"There's enough motivation for them to get on with here but if there's any added motivation to try and be part of a World Cup squad then of course it can only help."

When asked about the omission of Hearts players earlier this week, Clarke said the Tynecastle team is "maybe better the sum of the parts".

On those comments, McInnes said: "Yeah, I understood the context of that.

"Like I say, Steve's opinion is the only one that matters when it comes to picking the Scotland squad and I understand what he's saying with that but it doesn't mean to say that I agree that some of my players shouldn't be in the squad."