Former Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon considering retirement

The 30-year-old is without a club after leaving Sunderland at the end of last season

SUNDERLAND Craig Gordon's stay at Sunderland is over, after being supplanted by Sebastian Mignolet this season, and he has said he would like a return to Scotland. The £9m goalkeeper is one of three departures from the Stadium of Light. (GETTY IMAGES)

Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon has admitted a knee problem may force him to retire.

The 30-year-old is without a club after leaving Sunderland at the end of last season.

Two broken arms and the knee injury undermined his latter years on Wearside and the ongoing problem with his leg has meant he has been without a club this season.

The former Hearts player was among Dumbarton manager Ian Murray's backroom team on Saturday after taking up an offer to help out on an informal basis and he admits coaching could be his future.

Gordon told Dumbarton's website: "It's very unlikely I will be playing again this season. In fact I'm not sure if I'll play again, so I'm looking to get into coaching as I want to remain in the game.

"I'm not ruling out playing again, but I need to get things in place if the news is not good in that respect."

He added in a number of national newspapers: "I've had a couple of surgeries on it, but it's definitely not back to 100 per cent yet.

"Hopefully I can get back to playing with a bit of pain. It's about getting to a stage where I can get what I need to out of the knee.

"That's part of the reason I wanted to go into coaching, you don't know when the end might come for playing.

"I'm certainly not ready to throw in the towel just yet but it's been a long time and I don't know where I'll be going in the future."

PA