Craig Gordon has been dubbed 'Benjamin Button' by his Hearts pals.
Ross Stewart has revealed the veteran goalkeeper has earned the nickname as he seems to get younger with every single passing day. It comes from the film based on the character played by Brad Pitt who ages backwards throughout his life.
Hearts and Scotland No1 Gordon continues to age like a fine wine with his consistency and ability to make top saves still as good as ever. He's played a huge part since his return to the capital and has been a key member of the national team for Steve Clarke. The 39-year-old has no ambitions to rest up yet with his team-mate branding him as 'brilliant'.
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The former Albion Rovers shot stopper tests himself daily with two international squad keepers with Zander Clark the back-up option to Gordon at club level and one of those on the Scotland scene after his free transfer to join Robbie Neilson's side earlier this season.
Speaking about the nickname earned by Gordon, Stewart told Edinburgh Evening News : "Benjamin Button we call him! The older he gets, the younger he seems to be.
“Craig has been brilliant, but so has Zander Clark since he came in. Getting to train with two international goalkeepers has been good for me. They are both great guys as well.
“Every day I’m testing myself as much as I can, pushing myself and pushing Zander and Craigy as much as I can. It’s always in my head that I need to be ready if something happens and I’m put in there.”
Stewart is currently third in the pecking order at the Jambos, but the chance to train with 'really top players' was a massive part of his decision to sign on.
He also knows that working daily with the likes of Gordon and Clark will benefit him in the long run with the 27-year-old feeling time is still on his side. He only needs to look to his skipper, 12 years his senior.
He added: "It’s a hard decision to sign when you know you will likely be on the bench.
“But being at a team like Hearts, it’s a massive club and you get the chance to train with really top players. Goalkeeper is a different position because we get a few more years.
“So with the experience I’m getting from being here, then at 27 I feel I’ve still got that time on my side.
“Coming from Albion Rovers, where I was doing a delivery job during the day and training at night, to being on the bench here and involved in European nights is special.”
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