SCOTLAND LATEST
Not exactly the international debut Ryan Jack had dreamed of.
But with his dad, along with 15 family and friends, in the Pittodrie crowd on Thursday he refused to let a mindless few spoil his big night.
Jack was rounded on by a section of the Tartan Army before and during the 1- 0 friendly defeat to Holland.
His crime being that he opted to make a Bosman move from Aberdeen to Rangers in the summer.
Club issues should be put to one side when it comes to representing your country – but that wasn’t the case with Jack on his Pittodrie return.
Filling in at right-back for Scotland to earn his first cap, he deserved better.
But the Ibrox midfielder has refused to let the snipers dampen his spirits.
The abuse didn’t surprise Jack, who still claims his Scots bow was the proudest moment of his career so far.
And the 25-year- old insists it won’t deter him for pulling on that famous dark blue shirt again.
Jack said: “I got booed coming in off the bus and again when I got on the ball.
“But look, we were up in Aberdeen and the majority of those supporting Scotland would have been Aberdeen fans. I knew that before the game.
“It’s part of football and it didn’t bother me. I just tried to concentrate on my football and make the most of my first cap.
“Should it be happening to a Scotland player? It’s not me who makes that decision. People just express how they feel and I need to deal with that.
“I wasn’t surprised. I dealt with it and focused fully on the game.
“I knew it was my Scotland debut and I wanted to savour the whole week and the game itself.
“Anything other than that, I wasn’t interested in.
“I didn’t take any notice of what was happening off the pitch during the game.
“Obviously when I had a throw-in on the far side of the field a couple of times, it happened.
“But, as I say, it’s part of the game now and I still enjoyed my first game for the national team.
“It wouldn’t put me off playing for my country. No, not at all.
“I must have had about 15 friends and family in the stand the other night.
“For my dad, seeing me make my Scotland debut, I’m sure he was the proudest man there.
“You do it for your family, your friends and I’m sure everyone was proud of me on the night.”
Jack has relied on those closest to him at various times during a turbulent start to life at Rangers.
The midfielder has been sent off three times for his new club already this season but had two of those red cards rescinded on appeal.
On top of that, Gers have toiled in the Premiership and Pedro Caixinha – the man who signed him – lost his job.
Jack says the Ibrox faithful haven’t seen the best of him yet but he has been grateful to those around him for their support. He said: “As a player, if you sit down and think how it’s going to go, the season hasn’t gone the way I had planned it out.
“But Thursday night was the proudest moment of my career. I was delighted to get my cap and hopefully I can build on that now for my club.
“I want to do well for Rangers so that when the next Scotland squad is announced I get the nod again.
“Have I shown the Rangers fans my best yet? I’ll always strive to be better. It doesn’t mat ter if I’m playing excellently or not doing so well.
“I want to be better, that has always been in me. I’ve had that my whole career since I’ve been a professional.
“I go in every day to training, play every game, always striving to shut people up who doubt you. That’s what I’m about.
“Thankfully I have good people around me, a close-knit family with my wife and daughter.
“Away from the pitch, they’re always there and keep me going.
“Everything you do is for your family, yourself and your fans.
“And there are always times in your life and career when you need that – not just when you’re playing football. I know they will always be there for me.”
Jack didn’t let anyone down against the Dutch and put in a pol ished performance at full-back.
It’s a position he excelled in as a Scotland Under- 21 player before Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes transformed Jack into a new position as a holding midfielder.
Jack’s future will probably lie in the Rangers and Scotland engine room but he was more than happy to help out interim gaffer Malky Mackay in defence.
He said: “I was playing for my country so I’ll play anywhere. It doesn’t make a difference to me and I was pleased with the team’s performance.
“The result wasn’t the best but there were positives – the energy we had, the togetherness we showed playing as a team for the first time.
“I’m a player who will play wherever I’m told to play.
“Malky didn’t have many right-backs with Callum Paterson just back from a bad injury.
“He knew I was playing regularly for my club so asked me to do a job in there and it didn’t bother me.
“I’ve never been asked to play that position for Rangers but I just want to do well for my club and earn another Scotland call-up.
“When you come away and train, you do as well as you can in whatever position the manager puts you.
“I’ll just give it my all and try to make the most of playing for Scotland.”