Dundee United star Gary Mackay-Steven says he was “taken aback” after his brilliant derby goal scored in front of Scotland manager Gordon Strachan helped to secure him a place in the senior national squad.
The Tannadice winger was the stand-out addition to Strachan’s pool of players for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Serbia when the names were unveiled at Hampden yesterday.
The Scotland boss liked what he saw of Mackay-Steven at Dens Park on Sunday when he fired home the winner for the club in their William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final clash against Dundee.
Mackay-Steven said he had never been to Hampden before so was relishing going there with United for their semi-final with Celtic on April 14. Now, though, he will be heading there earlier than expected, with Scotland hosting the Welsh a fortnight today.
Then it will be on to the plane for Novi Sad for the second part of the double-header against Serbia on Tuesday March 26.
With the news of his selection still sinking in, Mackay-Steven said: “I was looking forward to the semi-final, thinking that would be the first time I’d get to Hampden. Now I have a chance to play there for Scotland in a competitive game. It sounds crazy when you think about it like that.
“When you grow up wanting to be a footballer, you dream about playing for Scotland one day so I’m taken aback by the whole thing it’s really amazing. It’s just a place in the squad, though, so I’m not getting carried away.
“I know there are loads of top players in the Scotland set-up and that I will have to really impress to have a chance but there’s no pressure on me. I’ll just go along, enjoy it and do my best.”
Should Mackay-Steven get a dream debut, then he will happier for those nearest and dearest to him.
“If I get a chance to play, the people I will be pleased for most are my family,” said the former Liverpool youth player. “I have had a lot of highs and lows in my career so far but they have helped me through the low points.
“At Liverpool I was injured I couldn’t play and was so far away from home. It was really hard but my family were always there to keep my spirits up and convince me to keep going.
“They told me to stick with it they picked me up. They told me that, once I was fit again, I had the ability to do it.
“Over the years they have spent fortunes on petrol money, plane tickets and all that sort of thing to support me. I know how proud they are of me getting in the squad and how proud they would be to see me play for Scotland.”
It was left to his club boss, Jackie McNamara, to pass on the glad tidings after United’s training session.
Mackay-Steven added: “It’s amazing and I am really thrilled.”