The 30-year-old's incredible miss from four yards on Saturday with the goal gaping could haunt him for the rest of his days if he does not make a more positive impact in Scotland's World Cup campaign.

But Gordon insists the Wolves striker showed enough in the goalless draw to suggest he can have an international future.

The substitute did well to win some headers against a towering Norwegian central defence that featured Fulham's Brede Hangeland.

And with Kris Boyd's subsequent decision to withdraw his services after his latest snub by George Burley, the former Charlton and Colchester player is likely to get a second chance.

Gordon said: "He came on and gave us a presence up there, flicked a few balls on and caused a bit of havoc.

"So there are positives to be taken from his performance as well. He knows he should have scored the goal, but we had other chances as well and didn't take them, so you can't lay the blame entirely at his feet.

"I think the fans will understand it's his first game for Scotland and he is under a lot of pressure coming on.

"But he will be back and he will be stronger.

"He is a big honest boy up there for us, he puts himself about and that's something we didn't really have."

And in looking ahead, Celtic's Barry Robson has refused to be downbeat about Scotland's qualification hopes.

"We are not going to be negative," he said.

"We are all here as a nation, a country together and we all want to make sure we qualify. That's the most important thing and it's definitely possible.

"It's nowhere near over, we have still to play Norway over there and they still have to play in Macedonia which is not an easy place.

"We both have to play in Holland and there is no way we are out of it, no way.

"We have to aim high. We have beaten Holland here once before and we know how hard it is.

"Why do you want to be negative? I don't want to be negative. I don't think it's dead and buried by any manner of means."