Craig Gordon has been backed to make an injury comeback to play for Scotland once again.
The veteran Hearts keeper sustained a horrific double leg break against Dundee United during their 2-2 draw on Christmas eve after a collision with Steven Fletcher.
One week before the ex-Celtic and Sunderland stopper turns 40, the Scotland No.1 has been ruled out until at least the end of the season.
Doubts have been casted over whether Gordon will be able to make such a recovery at this stage in his career.
However, ex-Scotland manager Gordon Strachan has backed the keeper to reclaim his jersey next term.
He told the Daily Record: “I texted Craig this morning and while I leave that between the two of us, what I would say is, when you look at his career, it’s been full of character building moments. And he’s dealt with them all brilliantly.
“That’s why he’s played on towards 40 because he’s dealt with those problems and his character has helped him to overcome them. He knows how tough these times can be and what is required for him to come back from them.
“He also knows how great a game it is. That’s why he keeps himself in such great shape - to keep playing. So I see no problem with him dealing with this injury and recovering from it. He will do that. It’s then just a matter of how long he wants to go on and that’s up to him to decide.
“But if you look at him over the last year and a half you think, ‘Is this as good as he’s ever been?’. So, in that case, why would he even think about packing it in?
“You only pack in playing football when you’re no longer an influence. That’s when you go, ‘Oops! It’s time for me to call it a day,’.
“But if you ask every Hearts supporter or every player, who has been your most influential or significant player over the last couple of years, they’ll all say the same. It’s him.
"So you can’t just go from being the best keeper in Scotland one day, to never playing again the next just because of a broken leg.”
Gordon's career was almost ended once by injury during a difficult spell at Sunderland.
That's another reason why Strachan can foresee a comeback.
He added: “We brought him back into the squad when he didn’t have a club and wasn’t playing with anyone. Can you imagine that? Not having a club and wondering if you still had a career?
“So once you’ve been faced with not having a club but having an injury which might finish you, then it sets you up for being able to deal with things like this latest setback.
"There will be moments like this when you think, ‘I’ve dealt with this before. It’s not going to be easy with the pain and the boredom but I’ve done it before and I can do it again,’.”
