Oz globetrotter Ryan is looking to settle down

FA R-T R AV E L L E D Rya n McGowan believes Scottish footballers don’t realise how lucky they are as they make their way in the game without having to give up their home comforts.

When the 29-year-old signed for Dundee on loan from Bradford City at the end of last month, it took his tally of clubs in a 13-year senior career to 11.

And having turned out for outfits in his native Australia, Scotland, China, the United Arab Emirates and England during that period, he’s clocked up more air miles that your average long-haul airline pilot.

Having always known he’d have to travel round the world to make a career in football, the Socceroo believes it’s made him more open to hop from one country to another.

That, he’s learned, is in contrast to many of the friends he’s made here in Scotland.

“Scottish kids probably don’t realise how lucky they are. They’ve got something like 15 full-time clubs within a three-hour drive of where they’ve grown up,” he said.

“When I was growing up in Adelaide, we had one team and then it was a two-hour flight to the next closest.

“So if you weren’t good enough for that team, you had to work harder and be prepared to shift around.

“I know boys here who only want to play for teams in or near Edinburgh – and they can.

“Scottish boys are very lucky to have so many clubs and opportunities without having to move.”

While he’s no regrets about his nomadic career, McGowan admits the chance to hang around in one place for a prolonged period is growing more attractive.

Particularly if that place is here in Scotland, the country he regards as his adopted home.

“I do sometimes think I’d love to sign a two or three-year contract somewhere again,” he added.

“I would have probably have loved to have stayed on at Hearts for a couple of more seasons and I was enjoying my time at United when I was there but bids came in and were accepted.

“And having an Australian passport does open doors in Asia,