Robbie Neilson believes the waiting game could be rewarded for Scotland hopeful Zander Clark with a first cap next month.
The Hearts boss praised the former St Johnstone stopper for his string of top displays as replacement for Tynecastle No.1 Craig Gordon, who broke a leg back in December. Neilson is convinced the 30-year-old will be under serious consideration by national boss Steve Clarke for the starting vacancy between the sticks against Spain and Cyprus next month.
And he revealed patience has been a virtue for the goalie since arriving from Saints last summer. He said: “Zander has been outstanding. We were desperate to get him last summer although he had options down south. Thankfully for us, the board put up the money for us to go and get him. Zander will be around about the Scotland set-up. Steve picks the team but there are not many keepers out there who are in the form Zander is in.
“I don’t know what other keepers are out there and obviously Craig won’t be involved. David Marshall has retired, Allan McGregor is no longer involved and Zander couldn’t do any more than what he has done. He’s had a number of clean sheets and has been playing well.
“Fingers crossed he continues to do so. It would be great for him to get some international caps as, mentality wise, the biggest thing is to play international football and he’s got that.”
Neilson insists the long-term injury to Gordon has only served to accelerate Clark’s promotion to claiming the No.1 shirt. He said: “The plan was that, over the space of a year to two years, he would become the number one but Craig’s injury has sped that up.
“Zander’s come in and handled the situation extremely well. He’s played in cup finals, in Europe and in the Premiership for a number of years.
“When we spoke to him initially about what the plan was it was about coming in and getting some game-time and eventually becoming our number one. He understood the process and was keen to come here and develop into the Hearts number one. It’s all just been a bit quicker than we expected.
“Do you go and be a number one at a lower level? Or do you come and wait to become number one for a team which is playing European football. He weighed it up and realised that he would get in eventually.”
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