Dundee boss Paul Hartley believes Scott Bain’s meteoric rise to fame from part-time football to an international call-up in the space of a year should act as an inspiration to every youngster at Dens.
Scotland boss Gordon Strachan has included the 23-year-old keeper in his squad for the upcoming games against Qatar and the Republic of Ireland next month.
It is his first call-up to the national side and capped what has been an incredible season between the sticks for the Dark Blues.
And Hartley believes it is a fitting reward for the graft Bain has put in after suffering the devastating setback of being released by Aberdeen four years ago.
The manager said: “It’s terrific news. It shows you what hard work can bring.
“Last year he was part-time at Alloa.
“Now to get this call-up is just fantastic. I think it’s something you always dream of.
“But I think maybe he thought when he got released from Aberdeen that his chance had gone a bit.
“For the last few years, though, he’s worked so hard and he deserves it.
“He is the outstanding young Scottish goalkeeper just now at the age of 23.
Hartley added: “Scott’s got years in front of him and we’re just really pleased for him.
“He has deserved it, His performances this year have been terrific.
“He’s bounced back. He had to go and get a job and was labouring for two years.
“It just shows you what his mind-set is like to keep working hard.
“It could have been easy for him when he left Aberdeen just to down tools a wee bit and maybe think that’s the end of his career.
“But he’s worked ever so hard and I’m absolutely delighted for him.
“He’s a great example to the other young lads here that if you get a knock-back you have to bounce back.
“We were very fortunate to get him last year.
“We had to pay some money for him but it’s been money well-spent in my eyes.
“As Gordon Strachan said on Monday, he is the future at 23.”
Hartley was the man who rescued Bain from the football scrapheap after his release by the Dons, making him his first signing as Alloa boss.
And the manager admitted he always believed the keeper would play for Scotland one day.
He said: “I saw potential in him. I had worked with him in training at Aberdeen.
“When I got the job at Alloa, he was my first signing.
“I think it’s always an important signing the goalkeeper.
“I always thought straight away that he would get a Scotland cap. I actually told him that.
“He reminds me of Craig Gordon in terms of his temperament at such a young age.”