While some may have used the international break to recharge their batteries, Dunfermline defender Lewis Martin is hoping to prove his stint away working hard with Scotland was time well spent.
The 18-year-old won his second cap for his country as a second-half substitute for Scotland’s under-19s in their 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic last week and followed that up with a 90-minute performance in a closed-door meeting with the same opponents two days later.
That the Scots managed to keep a clean sheet in the second encounter gave Martin extra pleasure as the towering centre-half helped hold the talented visitors at bay.
The former Rangers youth’s involvement with Ricky Sbragia’s squads have given the teenager an extra boost to self-belief that must surely be buoyant already aftermaking the starting line-up in all eight of the Pars’ outings so far this season.
Now, with 23 appearances to his name, the Falkirk-born player made his first-team debut just days after his 17th birthday last year and only turned 18 back in April.
He remains eager to ensure his career remains on an upward arc as he prepares to take on Stenhousemuir at East End Park this afternoon.
He said: “It was good to be away with Scotland last week. In the game on theTuesday, I played 35 minutes and, in the game on the Thursday, I played 90 minutes and we kept a clean sheet.
“The Czechs were a very busy team, constant running, they didn’t really stop for the full game. Every time you got the ball, there would be someone on you, so you had to move it quickly.
“With the coaches with Scotland, the training is a bit different. There’s more passing and we do different stuff to what we do at Dunfermline so you’re always learning things when you’re away, which is good.
“When I come back, all the boys ask me how it’s been and it definitely gives you a boost to confidence to be called up to play for your country.
“I’ll need to keep training well and doing well for Dunfermline. There’s the Euro qualifiers coming up (next month against Finland, Lithuania and Norway) and I’m hoping to get in that.
“Longer-term, it’s about trying to get into the under-21s and then hopefully if I keep on progressing then the full team.”
Martin has been part of a Dunfermline side that has grown slowly into the new League One season. An opening-day draw with Brechin City was followed by a 2-0 defeat at Forfar but back-to-back league wins against Airdrie and Stranraer have improved the mood at the club.
Martin acknowledges the Pars’ status as favourites for the title and promotion will mean they may have to work hard to break down opponents who arrive at East End Park with frustration on their minds.
However, with summer signings such as Michael Moffat and Gregor Buchanan, Martin’s central defensive partner, beginning to settle into their new surroundings, Martin is hopeful the Fifers can propel themselves to top spot before too long.
The stopper added: “In the last couple of games,we’ve done well against Airdrie and Stranraer and got the three points in each game. Hopefully we can keep that going.
“Ayr are three points ahead of us at the moment but we want to get up there as quickly as we can. To do that we’ll need to keep working hard and hopefully we can get the three points on Saturday.
“In the last couple of games things have been coming together a bit better.
“We’ll always have most of the ball in games but we just need to cut out our mistakes and, as a defender, I want us to be able to keep clean sheets as well.
“All the other teams will come to East End and try and get a point against us. Most will just sit in so we need to break them down if we want to get the three points.”