A goalkeeper's life is different. There are times when you may feel that you're untouchable in goal. There are times when patience is required. Then there are times when you feel frustrated.
Another aspect of a goalie's life is opportunity. Take it with both hands when one comes. When Craig Gordon broke both of his legs at the end of 2022, Zander Clark did that.
He knew he would face competition for the top slot after joining Hearts once his contract at St Johnstone expired. He seized the opportunity that adversity gave him.
Over the course of 18 months, he hardly ever let Hearts down. However, he was on the outside looking in after two games of the previous season.
Due to an injury that had prevented him from playing in the two previous games, Craig Gordon was able to return, and Clark would not play until the season's last match against Kilmarnock. In the first half of the team's first preseason friendly, a 1-1 draw with St Mirren in Spain, Clark returned to goal.
"Obviously, it's frustrating but as a custodian, you know that's possibly going to happen,"
he stated. "All you have to do is keep workinghard and attempting to demonstrate your abilities to the manager.
"I thought I had done that all season long, but I was never given the opportunity. Craigy did a good job of keeping me off the team, to be fair.
"That's just how goalies live their lives. Whether you're playing or not, you must constantly give it your all. You never know when someone might need you.
For the sake of the team as well as yourself, you must ensure that you are prepared. "It's been a terrible summer because I got that spark back at Killie and then hurt myself again. That was certainly my biggest frustration from the previous season.
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