Craig Gordon is set to become the second-oldest player in World Cup history if he makes an appearance for Scotland in North America next summer.

The Hearts goalkeeper will be 43 years and five months old by the time the global showpiece kicks off in mid-June.

He would be second only to former Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, who made history at Russia 2018 by starting the third game against Saudi Arabia aged 45 years and 161 days.

Gordon is back in the limelight after Angus Gunn, who started Scotland’s first four games in the 2026 qualification, missed out through injury for the closing double-header against Greece and Denmark.

Gordon, who hadn’t made a first-team appearance since May, impressively stepped up and helped the men’s side end a World Cup finals absence of almost three decades.

So is Gordon now Scotland’s first choice? And with Alexander Schwolow firmly established as Hearts number one, might the 42-year-old seek a move away from Tynecastle in January?

“At this moment in time he is Scotland number one for me,” said former goalkeeper Cammy Bell on the BBC’s Scottish Football podcast.

“You see the levels he managed to reach in the two games with the huge pressure that was on the goalkeeping department because of people not having game-time.

“For me, Gordon’s always been the Scotland number one. It’ll be interesting to see what he does in January, whether he pursues game-time between now and the end of the season to try to get prepared for the World Cup if he can’t get in that Hearts team, because ultimately I see this as Gordon’s sign-off.

“That’ll be him after the tournament, he will retire. And listen, he fully deserves it. He’s been an amazing goalkeeper for Scotland and he’s definitely on the plane.”