Preventing goals is Scott McKenna’s primary job as a Scotland defender.
But scoring them is also on his to-do list for next month’s crucial Nations League double header.
The Kirriemuir defender was frustrated that his diving header from a second half corner didn’t level the scores in Sunday’s friendly against Portugal.
And McKenna is determined to start finding the net in the dark blue of his country as well as the red of his club, Aberdeen.
“I had a header that I should have scored and that would have been the equaliser and it would have been different,” he admitted.
“I was disappointed for a couple of seconds but once I got back into defence I’d forgotten about it. I actually forgot about it until we got back in the changing room and they reminded me.
“It was a big moment in the game and I should have done better with it.
“Scoring headers is something that I need to work on. I don’t score enough goals for a centre-back.
“There’s an onus on us to pop up with goals now and again, especially with the size of us. Even back at my club I need to be doing better.
“I don’t think I’ve scored with my head since I came into the first team so it’s something I need to work on.”
Sunday’s game wasn’t without plus points for Scotland, according to McKenna.
“I think we started the game pretty well in the first half,” he said.
“We were brave on the ball and we moved it about really well. It was a bad time to lose the goal. One lapse of concentration and they punish you.
“It was just in those lapses of concentration you could see the quality they had and how clinical they were. I don’t think they really had many more chances than the goals that they scored.
“We can take the bravery we showed on the ball and the way we moved it early in the first half into next month.
“We got in between the lines a few times and caused them a few problems but we just couldn’t get the ball in the net.
“They were a very good team. Their movement and their sharpness really tests your concentration. If you switch off for a split second they’ll punish you and run off the back of you. At this level you need to be concentrated all the time, especially at centre-back.
“If we take any positive, we kept going and it was a very good goal from Naisy (Steven Naismith).”
The skill of fellow Don, Gary Mackay-Steven, in teeing up Naismith was also worthy of mention and McKenna believes the former Dundee United man took full advantage of his late Scotland call-up.
“He needs to keep doing what he’s been doing for us at Aberdeen,” he said.
“He’s been brilliant for us since the start of the season and if he keeps doing that then he’ll be giving the manager a decision to make.
“I think it certainly helped his case when he came on against Portugal, doing so well for the goal.”
