Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
McGregor ready
Uncapped man wants to make an impression
CALLUM McGregor has declared himself ready to make his first Scotland appearance against the Netherlands tomorrow night.
The Celtic midfielder was first called up by former national team boss Gordon Strachan in September, 2014 and was brought in for the World Cup qualifying double-header against Slovakia and Slovenia last month but has yet to feature.
However, after being included in stand-in manager Malky Mackay’s squad for the challenge match against the Dutch at Pittodrie, McGregor believes the time is right for him to make his international debut.
The 24-year-old replied in the affirmative when asked if he was in the form of his life and insists Champions League football with Celtic over the past two seasons has bolstered his confidence. “I feel ready to play,” he said. “It has been a really good period for me.
“The last few times I have been here it has been great to be here but this time round I feel I can play a part.
“The big Champions League nights and doing well in them has given me the confidence.
“I feel a lot more ready to play a part.
“I think it is just confidence. Playing well and scoring in big games, it is all part of the learning process as a player.
“You are learning different sides to the game all the time and I feel for me, I am affecting big games and that is where the confidence is coming from, you feel as if you do.
“In the last 12-18 months I have been coming on as a player in every aspect of my game and seem to be doing well and hopefully t hat continues.”
McGregor will take inspiration from fellow-midfielder Stuart Armstrong who has made himself a mainstay after a debut against Slovenia at Hampden Park last March which was described by Strachan as “the best” he had ever seen from a Scotland player.
The former Celtic youth player, one of eight uncapped players in the squad, said: “It wasn’t so long ago that he wasn’t with Scotland.
“Since he came in he has been a massive part of it and everyone is talking about how good he has been.
“So certainly, for me, I can look at it and take confidence from that.
“It almost feels like a fresh start with so many different faces coming into the squad and we are starting to build for the next campaign.
“You could have picked easier games but you want to test yourself.
“But I am delighted to be part of the squad, it is a big honour and hopefully I get a chance tomorrow night.”
FORMER Scotland manager Craig Brown believes victory in tomorrow’s friendly against Netherlands could land caretaker boss Malky Mackay the job on a permanent basis.
Mackay, the Scottish FA