Tiger on the hunt for cap No. 36

ALEX McLeish provided another landmark for Allan McGregor when he named him in his first squad on his return as Scotland manager.

The 36-year-old Hull goalkeeper was an experienced head among a new-look group of players who assembled in Edinburgh on Sunday, ahead of the friendlies against Costa Rica at Hampden Park on Friday night and away to Hungary next Tuesday.

While boss at Rangers, McLeish gave McGregor his Rangers debut in 2002 and during his first tenure he capped him for the first time. That debut came against Austria in 2007, and the goalkeeper insists there is plenty of life left in him.

“He did, he gave me my Rangers debut away to Forfar,” said McGregor, who won the last of his 35 caps against Canada last year. “He brought me on with 20 minutes to go. I think he moved me into the first-team dressing when I was at Rangers as well so it was good.

“I worked with him four or five years there and a year for Scotland. It’s good to be back. This time last year was the last time.

“I don’t feel any different than I was five, 10 years ago. Obviously it’s going to hit you at one point, but I can’t see it being in the near future, hopefully.

“You take every game as it comes and try your best. I am not thinking long term, just thinking about these games coming up.”

The former Rangers youth player left the Light Blues in 2012 as a free agent in the wake of the club’s financial problems.

He joined Turkish club Besiktas before moving to Hull a year later, and in 2017 spent a loan spell at Cardiff.

Asked if he might one day re-join Rangers, McGregor said: “I don’t know. It is not up to me.

“If clubs want you then they contact you and you see what happens but you can’t force yourself upon any teams.”