Zander Clark discusses form and Craig Gordon - Q&A

Zander Clark met the press before the game, where the goalkeeper was asked about the recent international break, praise from Paul Gallacher, his long-term future at Hearts, and what raises his game an extra 10 per cent.

Here's everything he had to say:

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Paul Gallacher recently said he knew that you were a good goalkeeper when you came in but you have since reached another level at Hearts. Do you feel that?

As a player you always want to get better no matter what stage of your career you’re at and I feel I’ve done that progressively since I came in and feel I’ve been getting better with each game. It’s been enjoyable and it’s something I want to keep striving to do, get better with each day that passes going into each session and each game. It’s pleasing to hear your coaches speaking highly of you. I must be doing something right.

How is it with Craig being back and breathing down your neck?

It’s the life of a goalkeeper. We know only one person can play. I’ve been doing well so he’s probably pushed me on to go that step further because you know the calibre of the goalkeeper that’s behind you. I just focus on what I can do. It’s up to myself to make sure I stay in the team and, touch wood, keep playing at a level to do that.

What’s the next step for you to continue progressing?

I never look too far ahead. I just want to keep doing well for this club and then long term keep myself involved at international level. I just focus on what I can do which is train hard every day and try to churn out a worthy performance at the weekend. I’m delighted to be playing every week here, it’s a massive club, and it’s about trying to maintain levels.

How do you view the difference between being the No.1 at St Johnstone and the No.1 at Hearts?

It comes with a lot more pressure. The fans expect a lot at a club like this and the players demand it off each other. We know what to expect off each other. So it’s always that case of trying to win every game. You go into each game and sometimes a draw isn’t good enough internally and externally. It’s something you need to learn to live with because it drives that winning mentality within the squad. It’s something this season we have handled pretty well.

Do you think you’re at the peak of your powers?

I don’t know, I saw a thing the other day where I had 16 clean sheets at this point one season at St Johnstone, so looking at that probably not! I think it’s 15 so far right now. Look, I’m probably playing at the top of what I have been for the last couple of years. But I still feel within myself there’s room for improvement. No matter what, I want to get better. At the minute I’m in a good place physically and mentally and it’s about keeping that going.

Was the international break frustrating, with four goalkeepers selected and only Angus Gunn played? Or did you accept the circumstances around that?

I was going into the camp, you know, going into any international camp if you can get minutes it’s great, but to just be involved in it’s an honour. Obviously, I’d played the last two before, the last two qualifying games, so within myself I thought that Angus might have played them. I wasn’t going in demanding to be playing or whatever, you just need to go in and work hard and I felt that I done that. As I say, it’s one of those where you cannae get too disheartened, only one person can play. It’s just about trying to do as well as you can and trying to nick a half here or there.

Would you be open to staying at Hearts longer?

I’m loving my football here at the minute. Personally, I’m in a good space, the club’s in a good place. It’s one of those, we’ll see what happens. Obviously, hopefully got a busy summer coming up, if I can keep doing what I’ve been doing then we’ll see what happens. It could be a pretty hectic one but if there’s time for a sit down then it’s certainly something I’d be open to.

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There are some big games coming up and you’ll want to keep yourself in contention for the semi-final. How’s the mood in the camp just now?

We know that it’s a big couple of weeks coming up. Obviously tomorrow will be a tough game, one that we’ve prepared well for this week, so we’re going into that high on confidence. We’re looking to get back to winning ways, we’ve not won in the last two. So it’s one of those, we want to get back into that winning habit and try and build confidence. In the near future we’ve got a semi-final coming up. We want to be going into that, not that we’re not in high spirits, but a couple of wins can really put your spirits right at the top so that’s what we’re aiming to do. It starts with a difficult game away at St Mirren.

Do you and Craig Gordon talk about the Scotland squad announcement for the Euros?

We’ve not spoken much about it. We had spoken about it when we were away on camp, [we had] a lot of free time to fill up so we spoke about Hearts and Scotland when we were away. Listen, the two of us know what we need to do. Craigy’s been playing the cup games and doing well in them so he’s playing at a high level when he comes in and he’s in the games. It gives the manager a decision to make. If I can keep playing in the league games and doing well then hopefully I can manage to get myself in that squad.

Is there a specific area of your game that has gone up a level?

Just playing with confidence brings an extra 5-10 per cent out of you that you probably aren’t aware of. I’m my own biggest critic. Folk might say I do well but internally myself I know that I’ve been crap, I don’t need other people to tell me that. Usually, if someone’s telling me I’ve been rubbish then I’m thinking it’s the end of the world within myself because I’m that harsh on myself. It’s just, I think, playing with confidence. The club are in a good place, the team are playing well, results are going well for us so it’s, that brings out another side where you’re playing with that confidence. I just feel that as a goalkeeper that’s how it sort of works.