Now I have my first proper Scotland cap I want as many as I can get
SAYS GRAEME SHINNIE
We had to fight and battle... and that’s what I’m all about
THERE must have been times when Graeme Shinnie wondered if he would ever fulfil his long-held ambition of pulling on a Scotland jersey.
First called up by his country for a Euro qualifying-double header against Poland and Gibraltar in 2015, the Aberdeen captain did not see any game time.
If subsequently being regularly overlooked during the Gordon Strachan era was tough, being left on the bench at his native Pittodrie by Malky Mackay for a friendly against the Netherlands last November was a particularly low blow.
Yet Shinnie had no hesitation in cancelling his stag do in Marbella to join Alex McLeish’s squad for their tour of South America last summer where he finally made the pitch against Peru and Mexico.
The 27-year-old is now a regular fixture in the national squad and he made his first competitive appearance for his country in helping Scotland beat Israel to reach a first play-off since 2003.
Unsurprisingly, he now wants more.
‘I was delighted to make my competitive Scotland debut,’ he said after Tuesday night’s thrilling 3-2 Nations League win at Hampden.
‘I’ve come on in friendlies before and really enjoyed it but it was always my aim to get a competitive debut and win a proper cap. But every time I reach a goal, I reach for more.
‘I enjoy being amongst the boys. I’ve made some great friends and we all get on so well, which is massive for the squad. Everyone gets on and it shows on the pitch.
‘Now it’s about getting as many caps as I can.’
Shinnie replaced Ryan Christie for the last 14 minutes against Israel — a minute after Eran Zahavi’s goal for 3-2 set up a tense finish. But he revelled in the pitched battle that ensued as Scotland saw out the game to win through a James Forrest hat-trick.
‘I was waiting to come on at 3-1 and when the goal went in, it changed the game completely,’ he said. ‘But it was perfect for me to come on in a game like that.
‘We had to fight and battle and that’s what I am all about. I was trying to get in about people and break up the play — and it was brilliant to get the win. That made it extra special.’
During the Strachan era, it was a regular source of frustration in the north east that Aberdeen’s key performers tended to be overlooked by Scotland.
But in addition to Shinnie, McLeish called upon fellow Dons Gary Mackay-Steven, Scott McKenna and Mikey Devlin for the double-header against Albania and Israel, although defender Devlin had to pull out through injury.
‘Mikey was disappointed to drop out and we were all gutted for him,’ said Shinnie. ‘But me, Gaz and Scotty have been away, which is great for the club. They will be delighted.
‘Gaz didn’t get on in the two games but it’s great for him to be involved.
‘Big Scotty McKenna goes from strength to strength and has a massive Scotland future ahead of him. He could go on and do anything in his career. He’s a brilliant player.’
For Aberdeen’s players, the focus now turns back to domestic duties. After a stop-start opening to their domestic campaign, Derek McInnes’ side have risen to sixth ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Fir Park to face Motherwell.
That concludes November’s fixtures before a long December kicks in, featuring nine matches in a month, starting with the club’s biggest game of the season.
On Sunday, December 2, the Dons face Celtic in the Betfred Cup final at Hampden.
Celtic have won six out of the six available domestic trophies during the reign of Brendan Rodgers.
Two of them, the Scottish Cup and League Cup in 2016-17, were won in finals against Aberdeen.
But Shinnie, who won the Scottish Cup with Inverness Caley Thistle in 2015, is hoping it is third time lucky for the team from the Granite City.
‘December is going to be a massive month, with us playing nine games,’ he said.
‘It will be a case of game, rest, game, rest. It is always a telling time of the season and once we come through the month, we will see where we are.
‘We just need to get back to working hard and trying to pick up as many wins as we can.
‘I’m desperate to get my hands on another trophy. But we know it will be tough.
‘Celtic are always good when they get to cup finals.
‘We just need to put our own stamp on the game, get stuck in and see what happens on the day.’