LABOUR OF LOVE
SCOTT BAIN will make the trip to Dundee with Celtic on Sunday before hotfooting it from Dens Park to Glasgow Airport to catch a seven-hour flight to Astana. Paul Hartley insists Bain’s eight-year journey from playing part-time at Alloa Athletic while working as labourer to becoming Celtic No.1 and possibly Scotland’s first-choice goalkeeper is the stuff of dreams. Allan McGregor’s decision to quit international football could open the door for Bain, who has already replaced Craig Gordon in goal at Parkhead. Bain’s meteoric rise is no surprise to former Scotland star Hartley who first spotted the goalie’s potential towards the end of his own playing career at Aberdeen as the kid was starting out. When Bain was released from Pittodrie, Hartley was in his first management job at Alloa and immediately swooped to offer his old team-mate a game in Scotland’s bottom tier. The pair were then reunited at Dundee when Hartley moved to Dens Park and signed Bain for just £30,000, a fee he still regards as the best money he ever spent on a player. Bain left Dens after a bust-up with former boss Neil McCann but hasn’t looked back since, ending a month-long loan spell at Hibs by joining the Hoops. A Celtic debut in a 3-2 win over Rangers a year ago was followed by a long stint on the sidelines with Gordon in top form. The 27-yearold’s patience was rewarded when he was handed the gloves at the start of this year by Brendan Rodgers and he has been in fine form. Now he will join Alex McLeish’s squad for the 4000-mile flight to Kazakhstan f o r Scotland’s Euro 2020 qualifier and Hartley hopes he can now BY GAVIN BERRY become the permanent No.1 for the national side.
He said: “I sent Scott a text on Monday night to say there was a chance for him to become Scotland’s No.1 with Allan McGregor retiring from international football.
“He’s the permanent Celtic No.1 so why not Scotland? It’s great that Stevie Woods is the Scotland goalkeeping coach because he’s working with Scott day in, day out at Celtic and knows his qualities.
“He’s a great boy and I’m delighted for him. I take great satisfaction in seeing a boy who had been written off at Aberdeen and fought his way through the divisions to become Celtic No.1 have this great chance to become Scotland’s first choice.
“It has been some rise for him and unbelievable considering where he has come from but he’s had to work really hard for it.
“Scott was a young player at Aberdeen when I was there. He trained with the first team when I was there and had a wee spell at Elgin on loan.
“I always remembered him because he used to stay behind and do extra training so when he was freed by Aberdeen I made him my first signing at Alloa. I knew he was a good young goalkeeper with potential and leaving Aberdeen was probably the best thing that happened to him.
“He had to go and graft and do the dirty stuff by working on a building site and playing part-time. But the good thing at Alloa was that we managed to get good goalkeeping coaches in for him. We had Gordon Marshall, Alan Combe, Brian Potter and Paul Gallacher and they all helped him but most of it is down to himself.
“When I went to Dundee he was the first person I wanted to sign and we spent around £30,000 on him. It was the best £30,000 we ever spent.
“When I was at Alloa and Dundee I always used to say to Stevie Woods that he had to have a look at Bainy because I felt he could play at Celtic.”
Bain has conceded just one domestic goal since the start of the year, a vindication of the decision by former Hoops boss Rodgers to drop Gordon despite his great display in the 1-0 loss to Rangers before the winter break.
Hartley said: “I don’t think anyone expected Brendan to bring in Scott in after the way Craig played against Rangers but Scott has taken his chance.
“It just shows you what can happen with a bit of luck and a manager who believes in you.
“I always believed he had the talent to become Celtic’s No.1 but you have to be patient when you’re a goalkeeper. It’s not like an outfield player where you always get the chance to come on during a game.
“Scott has had to bide his time but since he came into the team he hasn’t looked out of place at all.”