Aberdeen defender Scott McKenna admits he needs to score more goals for both club and country following a costly miss in Scotland’s 3-1 friendly loss to Portugal on Sunday.
McKenna nodded wide from a John McGinn corner with the goal at his mercy early in the second half at Hampden Park, with the Scots just one goal behind at the time.
The 21-year-old, who was earning his sixth international cap, has netted twice since making the breakthrough into Derek McInnes’ Dons side just over a year ago, but he feels getting on the scoresheet is an area he must improve on.
McKenna said: “It’s something that I need to work on. I don’t score enough goals for a centre-back. There’s an onus on us to pop up with goals now and again especially with the size of us.
“Even back at my club I need to be doing better. I don’t think I’ve scored with my head since I came into the first team so it’s something I need to work on.
“It was a big moment in the game and I should have done better with it.
“Going in at half-time it was a bit of a disappointment but if I’d scored that early in the second half there’s still a lot of time to build on it.”
McKenna’s club team-mates Graeme Shinnie and Gary Mackay-Steven were brought on in the second half Alex McLeish, while his central defensive partner at Pittodrie, Michael Devlin, was an unused substitute.
McKenna was pleased to see more Dons players get their opportunity, adding: “I’m delighted for Michael to get the call-up. He’s another one at Aberdeen who’s been the standout for us so far this season. Hopefully if he continues you that then he’ll get more chances and hopefully get his call.
“Gary needs to keep doing what he’s been doing for us at Aberdeen. He’s been brilliant for us since the start of the season and if he keeps doing that then he’ll be giving the manager a decision to make.
“I think it certainly helped his case when he came on against Portugal, doing so well for Steven Naismith’s goal.”
McKenna will miss Aberdeen’s trip to Hearts this weekend through suspension, having been handed a retrospective two-game ban for a challenge on Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard earlier this month.
He added: “That’s disappointing, getting the two game ban for the tackle. It’s just one of these things. I got 90 minutes in my legs against Portugal so hopefully that will benefit me going into the semi-final against Rangers.”