STAIR-WAY TO HEAVEN
I’LL NEVER LOSE HEART SAYS ANN
LEWIS MORGAN is climbing the Stair-way to heaven – all the way from Stranraer to the dizzying heights of the Azteca.
The Celtic midfielder was named Championship Player of the Year after his starring role in St Mirren’s ascent to the Premiership.
But the 21-year-old, who joined the Hoops in January before being loaned back to Buddies, has no time to draw breath as he prepares to fly out today with the Scotland squad for a two-game tour of the Americas in front of 140,000 fans.
Morgan is set to win his first cap against Peru in the 50,000 capacity Estadio Nacional in Lima on Tuesday and follow it up with an appearance against Mexico in their fabled 90,000-seater arena four days later. It’s a long way from his first match of the campaign – a 4-1 League Cup victory for Saints on July 15 against the Blues at the foot of the A77.
Morgan said: “There were only 849 fans at my first game of the season. Mental, isn’t it? The Azteca holds a few more than Stair Park so I’m looking forward to it.
“I remember scoring against Stranraer and setting up a couple for my team-mates but my meteoric rise has been well documented.
“This is something I’ve been working hard for and I’m going to embrace it. It’s an honour to be called up.
“If you’d asked me last BY GARY RALSTON year I wouldn’t have believed all this would come as quickly but I’m ready and I will enjoy it.
“I’d heard a wee whisper I might be called up and I hadn’t booked any holidays anyway as I’m in the middle of moving house so it wasn’t disruptive for me.
“I’d never played for Scotland before being called up to the Under-21s. I’m not fussed about not playing at the younger age groups because I’ve got to where I am, with a chance to play for the senior team.
“The aim of my career is always to be progressive and in the last 12 months I’ve made a transition from the Under-21s to the full Scotland squad. Now I’ve got to ensure I make the transition from St Mirren to Celtic.
“I’m lucky to be at a club that’s one of the biggest in the world and Celtic will give me a platform to try to achieve everything I’ve ever wanted.
“Even if these next two games for Scotland are friendlies it’s also a chance to showcase yourself against nations who will be looking forward to the World Cup. We must test ourselves and gauge where we are at the moment.”
Morgan is adamant Scotland will not become whipping boys for two nations looking to enhance their feel good factor ahead of their trip to Russia.
He said: “It’s up to us to play with an intensity and take something from these games.” SEE PAGE 57