Scotland midfielder Shaun Maloney’s determination to be part of the Scotland squad trying to reach the finals of Euro 2016 was one of his main motives in ending his American adventure to return to British football with Hull City.
Aberdeen-raised Maloney spent seven months with MLS outfit Chicago Fire, after joining from Wigan Athletic in January, but signed for Championship club Hull City on Thursday.
Having made two trips back during his spell in America, Maloney felt the travelling demands were affecting his readiness for the national side.
With Scotland still in contention to reach next summer’s European Championship finals in France the 32-year-old wanted to make sure he was in peak condition.
Maloney said: “The travel was certainly a reason, coming back was difficult. I was trying to convince myself it was going to be easier than it was.
“I got to the point where I had to make a decision and I think that now that it has been made, physically it’s far better for me that I’m back in the United Kingdom.
“There were various reasons. The club said there was a personal reason, but from a professional point of view the national team was important. It’s a huge year for the Scotland team and I want to be a part of it.
“Part of that means being at 100% in training and in matches. If that wasn’t the case then not only would I be letting myself down, but I’d hate to think at some point I’d let someone else down.
“I didn’t think my standards were slipping. But I would have found it very difficult to have done that much travelling and been at my very best.
“It’s such a huge year for the country and I want to be a part of it.”
With four games of the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign remaining, Maloney is determined to help Scotland defeat Georgia on Friday, but knows there will still be plenty of work to do should they triumph in Tblisi.
Maloney added: “It’s a game we really want to win. It would be a bit defeatist to say we must win this one and then discount the Germany and Poland games. But it’s one we really want to win and it would be really important for us.”