A stubborn determination not to let a frustrating loan spell with Ayr United last season put his career off track is what Scott McKenna credits with helping him win his first Scotland call-up.
Aberdeen defender McKenna’s selection for friendlies against Costa Rica and Hungary comes on the back of a string of impressive performances for the Dons since breaking into the side last September, prompting several failed bids from English Championship side Hull City in January and a new Pittodrie contract until 2023.
McKenna does not have to look too far back for the less than successful times, however.
Only 12 months ago, the Kirriemuir-born player struggled to break into an Ayr side that was relegated from the Championship into League 1, with the last of his 14 appearances for Ian McCall’s men coming on March 4 last year when he was sent off in a 3-1 Scottish Cup defeat against Hibernian.
The 21-year-old compensated for the valuable minutes lost on the pitch by spending them working out in the gym and McKenna feels he is reaping the rewards of his bullish reaction to the setback.
McKenna said: “I knew what I could do but I just wasn’t able to produce it on the pitch.
“But whenever I wasn’t playing I was working harder to improve on what I already had.
“I just hoped it would all come together. When I was at Ayr, if I wasn’t playing on a Saturday, I’d drive back up the road to Forfar and stop off in Dundee and go to the gym.
“It meant that even when I wasn’t playing I was still doing the work that the boys who were playing were getting. I needed to get my minutes in so I wasn’t falling behind.
“It was more out of frustration that I went to the gym. I lifted weights and tried to get all the anger out.
“I wasn’t playing well enough and the boys who came in did well and I couldn’t argue. It was frustrating knowing that I could do it, but wasn’t playing well enough.
“That happens in football and it was all about how I bounced back. It was the first time I’d been dropped and I had to learn how to handle it. I didn’t go moaning to the manager – I accepted it and tried to work my way back.”
McKenna also credits Dons boss Derek McInnes with a major role in his development, insisting he has given him all the support needed to prime him for a key role since he moved into the Pittodrie hotseat five years ago.
McKenna added: “Ever since I went full time at 16 he’s looked after me really well. I went away with the first team on the first pre-season after I went full time.
“I did well in the Development League that season and then he put me out on loan the following season to bring me on.
“But he would never throw me in too early or too soon.
“He said he was going to wait until the time was right and he did that.
“Even when I was at Ayr and not playing he told me ‘don’t worry about it, we know what you’re capable of.’
“He told me just to try and get back to the level they knew I could reach and I’d do fine at Aberdeen. Thankfully, I managed that.”
Meanwhile, Scotland coach James McFadden wants players aspiring to be “the man” when they play for Scotland.
Swansea striker Oli McBurnie, Wolves defender back Barry Douglas and Hibernian midfielder Dylan McGeouch were among six new faces named initially – the latter withdrew yesterday with a groin complaint – along with Hearts goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin, Aberdeen defender McKenna and Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay.
Celtic defender Jack Hendry was called up for the first time on Sunday when Rangers defender Russell Martin withdrew through injury.
McFadden, 34, who played under McLeish in his first spell as Scotland manager, was named in his backroom staff along with lead coach Peter Grant and goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods.
Former Motherwell, Everton and Birminham City attacker McFadden became a favourite of the Tartan Army over the course of his 48 caps and he gave an impassioned plea for players to come to the fore as he looked forward to the challenge matches which are preparation for the inaugural Nations League campaign.
“We want to go and excite people, win games and get that belief back,” he said. “I want them to come in with the attitude of, ‘I want to be the man, I want to achieve something for Scotland’.”