Scotland’s goalkeeping situation will spur on Craig Gordon to leave Celtic

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The news that Craig Gordon could be given a shock Scotland call-up will likely give him further motivation to leave Celtic in the summer.

The Scottish Sun reported on Monday night that Gordon could be in line for a call-up for this month’s crucial Euro 2020 playoff matches. Scotland face Israel at Hampden on March 26, and a victory there would see them set-up a shootout against either Norway or Serbia to see who goes to Euro 2020.

The Sun reported that both David Marshall and Jon McLaughlin are certain picks for the games. However, a goalkeeping crisis has meant that he’s struggling for a third. Gordon, who hasn’t played for Celtic since December, is therefore in the frame.

Gordon’s contract in Glasgow is up at the end of the season (Transfermarkt). Therefore, it looks as though he has his sights set on getting consistent game-time elsewhere, especially with his comments heading into the January transfer window (BBC).

But this latest boost for Gordon will only give him further reason to quit Parkhead.

The spot is there for Gordon if he plays regularly

The fact he’s even being considered having hardly played a game this season shows how big his reputation is. Therefore, imagine where he would be if he was actually playing regularly.

Marshall, Scotland’s first-choice at the moment, currently plays for Wigan who sit 18th in the Championship. McLaughlin, the number two, currently plays in League One with Sunderland. Neither of the two have the same pedigree as Gordon.

Gordon didn’t manage to play for Scotland throughout the entirety of 2019. His last outing for the country came back in October 2018 in a 4-0 loss to Portugal.

And a move could seriously lift his international ambitions. For example, if he managed to move to a solid Championship club or even a fellow Premiership side, it would surely put him in a better position than any of his Scotland rivals. So this is yet another reason for him to leave the club.

Yet it also opens up an opportunity for Scott Bain too. The fact Scotland are having an apparent goalkeeping crisis at the moment must spur him on to get himself into Steve Clarke’s plans. Unfortunately for Bain, Fraser Forster won’t be getting dropped anytime soon.

Where does Scotland’s goalkeeping problems leave both Craig Gordon and Scott Bain? Can you see either becoming the country’s number one in the future? Send in your thoughts via our discussion forum below.