Hearts players have performed well so far during the UEFA Nations League play-offs.
Craig Gordon has moved up to joint-fourth on Scotland’s list of most-capped players following Thursday’s 1-0 victory over Greece in Piraeus. The Hearts goalkeeper secured his 34th international clean sheet, with Scott McTominay’s first-half penalty proving decisive.
Gordon, now level with Darren Fletcher on 80 caps, is expected to claim fourth place outright with 81 caps when Scotland hosts Greece at Hampden Park for the second leg this Sunday. The 42-year-old remained solid under intense Greek pressure in the second half and is certain to retain his spot for the return fixture.
Meanwhile, teenage Hearts striker James Wilson, who earned his first senior international call-up last week, was an unused substitute. Scotland manager Steve Clarke included Wilson and fellow 18-year-old Lennon Miller from Motherwell in the squad to promote emerging talent. Wilson will be eager to make his senior debut at Hampden on Sunday.
Other Hearts players involved during the international break include Scotland Under-21s trio Liam McFarlane, Adam Forrester, and Finlay Pollock. McFarlane is currently on loan at East Fife, Pollock is with Raith Rovers, and Forrester has made 26 appearances for Hearts this season.
Scotland Under-21s are set to play two friendlies in San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain, beginning on Friday against the Republic of Ireland at the Pinatar Arena, followed by a match against Iceland on Tuesday.
There is also notable Hearts interest in the Costa Rica Gold Cup matches and the Scotland Under-21s. Kenneth Vargas and Gerald Taylor are part of the Costa Rica squad for a Gold Cup qualifying double header against Belize, with the first leg taking place early Saturday morning in Belmopan, and the return leg on Wednesday morning in San José.
Scotland Under-19s will be without Hearts representation after defender Matthew Gillies withdrew from the squad. However, the Under-17s squad featured one Riccarton youngster, Taylor Hogarth. Under-17 coach Brian McLaughlin’s team played their first of three UEFA League B fixtures against North Macedonia at Broadwood, drawing 2-2, with Hogarth scoring a goal. Matches against Romania and Liechtenstein are still ahead.
McLaughlin initially included versatile midfielder Alfie Osborne in his 20-player squad. The 16-year-old played the full 90 minutes against North Macedonia after training with the senior Scotland squad earlier in the week. Osborne joined by fellow youths Fletcher Boyd, Aiden McCallion, and Jamie Hislop.
Hogarth was called up late, replacing Cooper Masson, who had withdrawn, along with Cole Burke of Queen’s Park and Oliver Goodbrand of Rangers. The left-footed Hogarth, a former Scotland Under-16s captain, had recently been promoted from Hearts Under-18s to the B team. He came on for Masson in the 72nd minute and scored eight minutes later, taking advantage of a blocked Boyd shot to put Scotland 2-1 ahead. However, North Macedonia equalized just three minutes later.
Scotland Under-17s now prepare for their match with Romania on Saturday at Broadwood, followed by a game against Liechtenstein at Falkirk Stadium on Tuesday.
