I wasn’t doing enough to get picked before, says McLean

IT would be easy, in the circumstances, for Kenny Mclean to put all the blame on his environment. Even to cite a lack of international recognition as one of the reasons he has decided to move on from Aberdeen.

But that’s not the midfielder’s style. He takes ownership of his international career — half a cap and counting — in the way he can take control of a Scottish Premiership game.

Mclean, back in the squad and looking to add to the 58 minutes he sampled in a 1-0 friendly win over the Czech Republic 20 months ago, is adamant that he alone was responsible for being consistently overlooked by Gordon Strachan.

Asked if his decision to let his dons deal run down was influenced by the desire to establish himself with Scotland, the former St Mirren star said: ‘Not at all — you need to put that (international selection) down to yourself.

‘If I was doing enough, I’d have been involved. There were players who were doing more than me. They were getting picked and you need to look at yourself. I don’t think playing for Aberdeen makes it any harder. If you’re doing enough, you will get noticed. If you are standing out, then you will get the recognition.

‘There have been arguments about recent squads but there have been players involved who are playing in the top leagues in England — and it’s an honour to be involved this time.’

Mclean has kept a low profile since the club confirmed that he’d be moving on — either at the end of this season or, depending on managerial movements perhaps, in a January transfer.

Back in front of a home crowd on Thursday night, he’s hoping that Aberdeen fans do no more than treat him fairly during what’s left of his time at Pittodrie.

‘It’s down to me,’ he added. ‘If I keep doing well, it will be fine. If I come off it, people will think my head’s elsewhere. You don’t want your commitment questioned. I’ve spoken to the manager about it. He knows where I’m at and the club know I’ll give everything.’

Mclean has been in the international wilderness for a long time, causing him to question what he’d done wrong in under an hour on the pitch back in March 2016 admitting: ‘At times, you think about it and it’s frustrating — but there’s not much you can do about what’s happened.

‘Thankfully the chance has come again and you just need to do all you can to take it.

‘we have to look at this as the start of the next campaign. we’re devastated not to be involved in Russia 2018 but we need to look ahead to the next one.

‘That’s all we can do. The boys here are looking forward to (Euro) 2020 and we’ll work as hard as we can to continue the momentum that Gordon left.’ As much movement and uncertainty as there may be at Pittodrie these days, with Mclean insisting he’s given no thought to his next move, something that might change should derek McInnes be tempted to take over as Rangers manager, there is still room for a bit of the feelgood factor heading into this game. McInnes, in particular, was thrilled to tell both Mclean and Graeme Shinnie about call-ups that many considered to be long overdue. Shinnie was named in the national-team squads to face Poland and Gibraltar two years ago by Strachan but has yet to make his Scotland debut. After being named in Malky Mackay’s squad to face Holland, the Aberdonian’s dream is likely to finally come true.

‘one of the best parts of being a manager is telling a player they’ve an international call- up,’ said McInnes. ‘I enjoyed breaking the news to Graeme Shinnie because I knew how important it was to him.

‘I feel it’s long overdue for Graeme but I have had the luxury of working with him every day. I know how consistent he’s been but that’s the same for all three of the lads we’ve got in the squad.

‘Graeme has been banging at the door of the international set-up for a while now.

‘There was a period where he would be looking forward to the squad and hoping to be in it. I think he’d got to the stage where he was expecting not to be in it.

‘An international call-up is something worth waiting for, so I just reiterated to Graeme that if he kept doing his job well here at Aberdeen, then it would be recognised.’