McLean looks to bottle Murray spirit in majors bid

THE extraordinary fightback that Andy Murray produced in the first round of the US Open in New York on Tuesday night lifted the mood and morale of an entire nation after months of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown.

His gutsy five set victory over Yoshihito Nichioka of Japan, who had led after two and looked certain to prevail, in the Arthur Ashe Stadium didn’t go unnoticed in the Scotland camp.

Steve Clarke and his players are hoping to give the country something to cheer later on this year when they take part in the Euro 2020 play- offs – by qualifying for a major tournament for the first time since France ’ 98.

Kenny McLean, the Norwich City midfielder who is keen to be involved in the Nations League match against Israel at Hampden tomorrow evening, admitted their compatriot’s rousing and unexpected triumph had been uplifting for all of them.

“It’s pretty inspirational what he’s done throughout his career and as a Scotsman it makes you proud,” said McLean. “When you look at these sportsmen from your own country you need to take inspiration from it and we want to do that as well. We want to be qualifying for tournaments so that people can look at us in that light.

“We do take a lot from watching that and it makes you proud and we want to do as much as we can for the country as well.”

McLean baulks at persistent accusations footballers don’t care as much as Murray, who is continuing his comeback from hip surgery, about achieving success and insisted they are every bit as determined to shine on the big stage

“I think it is a bit lazy because we come away for 10 days and e v e r y - body is doing as much as they can for each other and for the country,” he said.

“We’re all desperate to succeed for the country. I see it on a daily basis when I’m here. The manager works tirelessly picking the right squad and preparing us and we’re all pulling in the one direction.” McLean ( left) predicted that overcoming Israel in their first Nat i o n s L e a g u e m a t c h will give Scot land an important psychological edge when they come to take on the same opponents in their Euro 2020 play- off semi- final next month.

“Hopefully if we get the result then it will give us an edge,” he said. “We’re going out to get the three points. We’re at home and it’s a game we’ll be doing everything to win. When that game [ the play- off] comes around we’ll look at that and focus on it. But right now it’s about the Nations League games. We’ve not played too much football some of us so by the time that next game comes around we’ll be more match sharp and have another two games under our belts.

“We want results and performances to be as good as possible. It’s all about the result, but we want to perform as well as we can and continue to improve as a team. I think these two games [ Scotland play the Czech

Republic away on Monday night] are massive to give us that bit of momentum. We’ve won our last few games but the break has stopped that momentum a bit. After these two games there are international breaks coming up thick and fast and we’ll be seeing a lot of each other and hopefully we’re improving.”

Clarke’s preparations for the Israel and Czech Republic games has been hampered by the withdrawals of Lawrence Shankland of Dundee United and Oliver McBurnie of Sheffield United from the Scotland squad due to injury. But McLean, who yesterday agreed a three year contract extension at Norwich that ties him to the Carrow Road club until 2023, believes the national team still have some lethal predators and stressed it is the responsibility of every player to try and pitch in with goals.

“I think there’s a responsibility on the whole team,” he said. “We don’t like just putting the responsibility on the strikers. Everybody needs to take responsibility for that.

“John McGinn has stepped up and we’ve got other players in those positions. Ryan Christie has been doing it for Celtic, Stuart Armstrong had a great season with Southampton. So we’ve quality there

“It’s Lyndon Dykes’ first squad. But he’s looked very good. Oli Burke has played there for us before and got a crucial goal for us against Cyprus.”