Zander Clark in Scotland call up sweat as Hearts goalkeeper curses Don Robertson and lineman for 'killing' him

Zander Clark hopes referee Don Robertson and his linesmen haven’t wrecked his Scotland hopes - by ruling a string of top saves offside.

The Hearts stopper will learn on Wednesday if he’s made the cut for the Euros squad Steve Clarke is taking to Germany. Saturday’s six-goal thriller with Rangers was the Tynecastle No1’s last chance to impress the national team boss but Clark was frustrated that a couple of big stops against Cyriel Dessers came after the flag had sprung up. The keeper - who was back in Stevie Naismith’s side after watching Craig Gordon start the last two - said: "It was good to get back on the pitch and contribute with some big saves.

“A couple of them will probably not get logged because Don kept giving offsides! He was killing me a bit! No, I didn't know they were offside so they were good saves, to be fair. It would have been much better if the goals-against was zero but it's pleasing to make those saves when called upon.

"It was a busy game but that's always good. If you can produce a few saves when you are being busy, it helps. I'm disappointed to concede three, obviously, but I thought it was a pretty even game and enjoyable to be a part of.”

Clark and Gordon will now be keeping fingers crossed for a dream call-up. "I've played the majority of the season,” said Clark. “When Craig has been in he has done well. It's out of our hands now, it's the manager's decision.

“I feel that, over the course of the season, I've probably done enough but I don't want to count the chickens before they are hatched. We'll wait and see. I've been happy with my form and it helps when the team is doing well.

“It gives you that bit of confidence. I've been delighted with the contributions I've made throughout the season. When you finish the season so highly in the league it's always pleasing. I don't know if this is my best season. I had a couple of good seasons at St Johnstone, obviously.

Zander Clark -Credit:SNS Group
Zander Clark -Credit:SNS Group

“Probably. I felt I've been quite consistent this season. You got to just back yourself. Over those summer months when I had no club, I always backed myself to find something. I knew I was a good goalkeeper.

"When that sort of pressure comes, it's what you want. You want that competition and it has probably brought out the best in me. I'm really enjoying it."

It’s a big summer for club and country, with Hearts looking ahead to guaranteed group stage action in Europe next term. Clark added: ”We've finished the season well and that's what we set out to achieve at the start.

“We knew within the squad that we had the players and the manager and the coaching staff who wanted to drive us towards that. Everybody has been signing from the same sheet. We're delighted how the season has ended when a lot of folk were questioning us at the start of the year. Internally, we believed in the process, knew we were a good squad and could achieve what we wanted to.”