Or you still have faith in Mig.... Craig Gordon says he's delighted to be back in the fold following a long spell on the sidelines through injury. The 29-year-old Scot was out of action for almost a year with a knee injury but made his return to first-team duty as a unused substitute in last weekend's Tyne-Wear derby. The berth on the bench came as a huge boost for Gordon, who has been faced with a long road back to fitness having played his last senior game in February 2011. "It was nice to be back in the dressing room with the lads and experience that again," said Gordon, who is just six games away from a century of appearances for Sunderland. "It's been a long time - a lot longer than I anticipated when I first got the injury - so it's good to be back. "Everything has seemed to come around at once - I probably have only been training at full pace for the last week or so and then I was off with the Scotland squad. "I got a couple of days' good training under my belt with them and then came back here and was on the bench on Sunday. "It's been a long time coming." The Scottish international's knee problem required surgery, which was following by a long spell of rehabilitation under the supervision of the club's medical staff. But he says he's feeling 100% fit for the first time since the injury having returned to action in the reserves recently. "We tried lots of different things to improve the knee and I'm still doing extra work on it after training to try and strengthen it further," the stopper reflected. "I'm able to train at full pace and I'm feeling that sharpness now which was missing for a long time. That's a big plus for me. "I've been working towards this for so long. I've felt good in the small-sided games over the past few days and it's nice to have that feeling again. "I'm really feeling as if I can move and play games." Gordon currently finds himself behind Simon Mignolet in the club's depth chart, with Irish international Keiren Westwood also in the first-team frame. But the big Scot says he's fully focused on a senior return and is aiming to force his way back into the team before the end of the season. "I'll be doing everything I can between now and the end of the season to try and get back in the team," he said. "It's up to me to train hard, put some pressure on and prove that I am ready to start playing again. "If I can keep my performance level up in training as I have been over the last few days I will be knocking on the door and looking to try and get a starting slot."
I hope Gordon stays and signs a new contract in the summer because on his day he really is a top goalkeeper
Don't mean to sound completely anti-Gordon, but wouldn't have had him down as out of the closet material either
Haha, yeah always had faith in him and thought he was on the way to being best keeper in the league before the injuries started in ernest. I would still have Westwood ahead of Ming as well but Martin knas what hes doing. Funny how opinions on players can differ, I'm a Bardsley fan too so perhaps not the best judge
Craig Gordon when playing regular football is one of the best 3 keepers in the league IMO with Westwood a very solid number 2. Mignolet I still don't rate as premiership standard
Mignolet is a very good goalie from what I have seen. Question is, has he done well enough to keep his place? I don't think Westwood is as good as him and Gordon has only just returned. Is he capable of performing to Mig's standard just yet? MO'N must be wary to randomly change goalkeeper especially if it backfires. A lot of spotlight falls on goalkeepers!
Nice to be able to have this sort of debate. All three have excellent qualities and all (Westwood?) have been match winners for us. A bit of competition is very healthy for the squad
Gordon when fit is very good in my opinion but a bit weak at times against the Stokes etc of the league. If he is fully fit then he is the best keeper at the club. I think Ming has done very well, his number of clean sheets shows that, but his positioning still leaves a little to be desired. I would be happy with any of our 3 keepers to be honest which we have not been able to say for many years but Gordon just edges it for me, he is the one capable of making the "wonder" save.
Gordon is easily your best keeper for me. May not have always shown it so far but the lad is talented.
We need to see how fit Flash really is, MoN will see him training. Any how Mig has gone up in my estimation, came back and played when his face was not right, and when we needed somebody to man up! Showed bravery. Was very good at Stoke despite the attacks on him by the brutes of Stoke. Has made some great saves lately, not least the pen at ASDA. So ATM I cannot see any manager dropping him.
Westwood should have been back in place of Mingolet. Mingolet is third choice no matter what. Saved a penalty, which as we all know is a lottery guessing the right way. Any other keeper in the Premiership would have saved the Donkey's tap in, the other day. Dreadful keeping.
Aye don't think he'd be dropped either and lets be honest none have them have done anything particularly wrong. As alluded to we are debating "I think this really good goal keeper is better than the really good goal keeper you think is superior", what a fantastic situation for the club
All good and well saying that mate but has he been playing badly enough to get dropped for someone who has just come back from an injury and someone else whose main experience is in the Championship? Westwood is a good goalie but surely he is behind Mingolet? Give Gordon some time, I assume he has played reserve matches and whack him in. Maybe give him the FA Cup match against Everton?
Apart from 'that' goal on Sunday which was at his near post and barring the west brom game where everyone had a shocker dont thing ming has done much wrong. We have (had) one of the best defences in the prem so why tinker with it? Gordon was looking very good again before his most recent injury so thats a bit unfortunate. We have 3 keepers now with premier experience and cant see which other club can say that. My only concern is Gordon's contract as would hate to see him leave on a free!
