Scotland goalkeeper David Marshall is determined history will not repeat itself and he can convince his manager Gordon Strachan he should be given the gloves for the long haul.
Cardiff City goalkeeper Marshall began his career at Celtic when Strachan was in charge of the Parkhead club.
It was a disastrous start as, in the first two games under Strachan, the goalkeeper conceded nine goals – five to Slovakian club Artmedia in a Champions League qualifier in 2005 – and then four to Motherwell.
The signing of Artur Boruc meant Marshall was consigned to the bench and he remained there for the following 18 months before being sent on loan to Norwich City.
It was a miserable end to a Hoops career that began so brightly for Marshall, whose outstanding performance as a 19-year-old helped Celtic defeat Barcelona 1-0 in the Uefa Cup in 2004.
Marshall was rewarded with his international debut just five months after the Barca victory, playing in a 3-0 friendly loss against Hungary at Hampden Park.
He was limited to just four further Scotland appearances before the start of Strachan’s Scotland tenure in January 2013, but has since gone on to establish himself as first choice under the former Aberdeen midfielder, earning his 18th cap in Friday’s 1-0 win against Qatar.
Having worked so hard to displace Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon, pictured, and Hull City’s Allan McGregor, Marshall is determined not to let the number one jersey slip and memories of time on the bench are a huge motivator.
Preparing for Saturday’s crucial Euro 2016 qualifier against Republic of Ireland in Dublin the 30-year-old said: “Attitude gets players so far. It’s a squad game now, so it’s different from being at a club. I have been on the bench and done all the travelling which happens in international football, it can be a long time away if I’m not playing.
“It was not so bad when I was younger. But now, when I have a family and I’m still not playing, then it is hard to justify the travelling at times, especially when it goes on for so long, and there were a few players in the same boat. I wouldn’t say I deserve to play just for travelling, but it was tough at times and the only thing I could do was work hard.
“Did I ever think about quitting? No, not really. I was always the youngest goalkeeper so it didn’t cross my mind.
“When I was at Celtic and not playing and then meeting up with the Scotland squad and not playing, that was more difficult.
“There was nothing to look forward to. If I had been playing for my club then I could have concentrated on that, and game time with Scotland would be a bonus.”
With McGregor rested for this weekend’s game at Aviva Stadium, Marshall expects Gordon to push him all the way for his place in the team.
Gordon, who moved from Hearts to Sunderland for £9million in 2007, has thrived in his first season back in football with the Hoops after a two-year absence from the game with a knee injury which almost drove him into retirement.
Marshall knows Gordon will do all he can to regain his position but said: “I hope I start and yes, at every Scotland match there is a question about it.
“But having so many good goalkeepers does push me on. The standard throughout the whole squad is like that. If a player picks up an injury then someone else can slot in.
“It has never been awkward. Maybe other goalkeepers would say differently, but the three of us have never made it awkward. Craig and I came in at the same time and have known each other a long time. Craig loves playing for Scotland, he always has, and his objective will be to play against Ireland.
“He is desperate to play, I understand that, he has a lot of caps and he would have got a lot more were it not for his injury, but I want to play as well.”