Ikechi Anya is determined to impress if given the nod against Belgium after admitting his previous memory of playing football in Scotland was not a positive one.
The Watford winger could make his international debut in Friday’s World Cup qualifier at Hampden after earning his first call-up for the double-header against the Belgians and Macedonia.
The 25-year-old was born in Glasgow and spent seven years in the city’s Castlemilk area before moving to England where he began his professional career.
Asked about his Scottish background, Anya said: “I was brought up in Castlemilk but when I was younger I moved down south because my dad got a job in Oxford.
“I moved when I was about seven. I didn’t play for a team here but we played at school.
“I don’t know why this memory is with me but I remember we played well in one game and a big bully got me and my mate and he banged our heads together. I just remember the story and it was kind of crazy.”
Anya is hoping for a better experience north of the border this time with the national team.
He added: “A couple of years ago, I wasn’t playing at a level that was too good but I think I’ve come on in leaps and bounds under the tutelage of the Watford management.
“I’m surrounded every day by Premiership-class players, although we play in the Championship. I’m hoping I can take my form at Watford into the Scotland set-up.”
News of the call-up came from his Watford boss Gianfranco Zola and has been given the seal of approval by his family.
He said: “They are very proud. When I told them Scotland were interested, they told me to go for it, that’s where I was born. They told me I’d worked hard to get here and I should go and represent the country of my birth and enjoy it.”
Anya believes he has plenty to offer the Scotland team if given a taste of the action in the next two games.
He said: “I think what I can add is that I’m a positive player. I’m a wing-back, I’ve got pace, I like to think I can take on my man and deliver. That’s what I’m trying to work on at Watford the delivery, the end product.
“That’s the cliche with quick players like myself, they can beat their men but can they make the right decision at the end?
“I think that’s what I’ve really improved on and hopefully I can do it at this level. Whether I play on Friday is for the gaffer to decide.
“I’ve never played at this level before. All I can do is be confident that what I’m doing at Championship level will stand me in good stead here.
“The gaffer will see me in training and, if he thinks I’m good enough, he will put me in. If not, then I’ll bide my team, keep on improving and try to prove to him that I should be playing.”
Derby County’s Craig Bryson, Chris Burke of Birmingham, Hibs’ Kevin Thomson and Lee Wallace of Rangers have all been added to Scotland’s squad after the withdrawals of West Brom pair James Morrison and Graham Dorrans and Hull forward George Boyd.