O’Donnell fears first cap could be his last

STEPHEN O’DONNELL takes nothing for granted when it comes to solving the biggest headache facing Alex Mcleish.

Winning his first cap against Peru, the Kilmarnock right-back became the first Rugby Park player to start a Scotland international since Ian Durrant in September 1999.

Despite a promising debut in lima, however, O’Donnell fears he will be shunted to the side when the likes of Celtic’s James Forrest and Ryan Fraser of Bournemouth are available.

‘I certainly enjoyed the experience and I hope it’s just the first and not the last,’ said the 26-year-old. ‘But I’m under no illusions.

‘Some top-class players pulled out for me to get this opportunity and I just hope I’ve made the manager aware that I won’t let him down.’

Asked if he expects to earn more Scotland starts, O’Donnell replied: ‘I don’t know if I did enough personally to feel confident about that.

‘I worked hard, I felt I did an okay job, but we were beaten ultimately.

‘I’d love to be involved in more, but there is James Forrest and Ryan Fraser, who aren’t even on this trip. Both are top quality players playing at a high level.

‘I need to do my best for Kilmarnock and I hope I did my club and my family proud, but it’s something I would never take for granted.’

O’Donnell’s concerns over Forrest and Fraser could be justified. The expectation is that Mcleish will go with a 3-5-2 formation designed to accommodate left-sided defenders Kieran Tierney and Andrew Robertson when the Nations league begins in September. Forrest or Fraser could then operate in a right wing-back role which both have performed for their clubs.

‘They have done it for Celtic and Bournemouth at a high level,’ pointed out O’Donnell (right).

‘One operates in the Premiership, the other in the European Champions league and was the favourite for Player of the Year in some eyes. It would be nice if Kilmarnock could maybe get into Europe next year to give me a wee bit more behind me but, look, I’m just enjoying this couple of weeks away.

‘I will hopefully do myself justice in training and any time I play — and if I’m involved in the next one, what will be will be.

‘I go back to club football with a good manager in Steve Clarke and hopefully I’ve made progress to get to this level.

‘But I think anyone standing here saying they don’t want to try and taste games like Peru a bit more often is not being honest. ‘I would love to do it again.’ like many of the players called up for Peru and Mexico, O’Donnell’s first cap might also be his last.

Thrilled to be informed he was the first Killie player to start for his country in almost 20 years, however, he admitted: ‘I wasn’t aware of that fact. I am now. It’s a nice thing to get the accolade and get the appearance.

‘It’s for everyone at the club after the progress we’ve made.

‘There were a few watching at home. I’m not too sure about the Kilmarnock boys, but I know a good few of my friends and family were watching and I just hope it’s not the last time they get that opportunity.

‘If I’m honest it would have been nicer to mark the occasion with a win or something to look back on with real satisfaction.

‘listen, maybe when I look back in years to come it will be something I will feel a lot happier and prouder about. That I played in Peru and performed for my country. ‘But right now I feel a bit disappointed if I’m honest about it.

‘We weren’t able to impose ourselves on the game the way we would have liked and give the fans who travelled and made a ridiculous effort to come here something to cling to and get behind. ‘Hopefully in Mexico we will give the fans something to cheer.’