Markvowsto makeupfor cup final pain
Reynolds still relishing return to Hampden
FOR all the players stepping off the bus at Hampden Park on Saturday afternoon, you’d forgive Mark Reynolds for doing it with a shudder.
Just over a week ago, the centre-half trudged off the pitch in the Mount Florida sunshine, a Scottish Cup runners-up medal hanging around his neck over a sweat-soaked Aberdeen shirt.
Only seconds earlier, a Tom Rogic last-ditch strike had sent the trophy s piralling away from the Dons and into the clutches of Celtic in the dying s econds in a 2-1 defeat.
Two weeks on from that moment of pain, Reynolds will return to the same venue to be part of a Scotland squad aiming to turn themselves into heroes.
“It’s still raw, it still hurts,” said the former Motherwell man. “We put in a great performance for 90 minutes and the last kick of the ball cost us.
“The game plan, the way we played up until that point, was perfect. Maybe we just run out of steam and Celtic were able to find that bit of quality as they do in the big games.
“I thought we had a great season. Three second places to Celtic is no disgrace, they were a strong team this year. We played some good football and looking back on it we definitely had a good campaign.
“A couple of minutes away from extra-time in the final and you never know what may have happened, but it’s good to be back out and playing.
“After any bad result the main thing is to get back out there.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been involved in a game bigger than this. You come away to play for your country against England at Hampden. It’s the stuff dreams are made of.”
Reynolds knows this would be the perfect opportunity for him to gain his first full Scotland cap. It would certainly top off a fantastic season for him in general.
Yet he is also aware of how difficult that will be. Despite Scotland’s central defence being a so-called weak point, the 30-yearold is still down the pecking order when it comes to Gordon Strachan’s selection.
Still, there was never a hesitation in his mind when it came to answering his Scotland call.
He said: “If you said to any fan they would give their left leg to come and be involved in the Scot- land squad. I’m no different. It’s great to be here and be involved, but the ultimate aim is obviously to go and play, get that cap.
“To get that recognition is great. So I’ll keep pushing and hopefully that cap will come sooner rather than later.
“It’s never been an option for me or many of the players [to pull out]. We’ve been lucky. If you look back at the squads there’s not really been anybody pulled out.
“Boys come here even with niggling injuries. Kieran Tierney is here with his mouth injury and he’s said it’s sorted and he wants to play.
“That’s the kind of attitude we have running through the team.
“The manager has said before he needs 20-odd boys to push for a place. That’s what makes the squad as strong as it is.”