'Determined' Gordon signs for another season with Hearts

Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon has signed for another season with Heart of Midlothian, with the 42-year-old saying he is "determined to make it better than the last".

When Derek McInnes arrived from Kilmarnock on Monday, he became the Scottish Premiership club's third head coach in a year during which they missed out on a top-six finish.

Edinburgh-born Gordon, who began his second spell with his local club in 2020, is "looking forward" to "the new era" under the former Aberdeen, Bristol City and St Johnstone manager.

"It's a huge honour to continue playing with this great club," he told Hearts' website.

"Ever since I walked in the door of the old main stand in 1999, it's all I have wanted to do. I feel fortunate to still have the opportunity to do that for another year.

"I took my time to come to this decision - I wanted to make sure it was right."

Gordon left Hearts for Sunderland in 2007 for £9m - a record fee by a British club at the time for a goalkeeper - and returned after six trophy-winning seasons with Celtic.

This season, he held off the challenge of fellow Scotland international Zander Clark to be a near ever-present, playing 52 times for club and country, clocking up his 30th appearance for Hearts in Europe - a new club record.

Gordon has now played for the club 330 times for Hearts across his two spells, taking his clean sheet total to 104, while earning his 81st Scotland cap - fourth behind Kenny Dalglish, Jim Leighton and Andy Robertson.

"I'm looking forward to the new season, determined to make it better than the last," he added.

"I'm ready to do all I can to help get this team back to where we want to be. Another season, another chance to achieve."