MY GRAN GESTURE

Liam’s so glad he chose Scotland for Jean

Liam Palmer celebrated like every other Scotland player at the team hotel in Belgrade on Thursday night.

By the sound of it, no one would have enjoyed that party more than his Carluke-born gran, Jean.

Amidst the jubilation after the dramatic win over Serbia to get us to the Euros, the Sheffield Wednesday defender took a moment to reflect.

On the decision he made as a teenager to follow his family heritage and represent Scotland. On what it would have meant to Jean. And on the journey he has been on with the national side.

From youth level to first team, from a Kazakhstan catastrophe and Russian rout – to qualifying for a major finals.

It has been an emotional ride for the 29-year- old, never more so than when David Marshall saved Aleksandar Mitrovic’s penalty to send the whole country wild.

But he reckons granting Jean’s wish and pulling on a dark blue shirt is one of the best decisions he has ever made.

And while the players boogied their way round the hotel, he couldn’t help but think his late gran would have celebrated herself.

Palmer, who was a sub against the Serbs, said: “I put a post on Instagram after the game just saying: ‘ That’s for you nan.’

“My journey with Scotland started 10 years ago when I went to a camp with Billy Stark and didn’t even know anyone.

“Never did I think I would be a part of reaching a tournament for the first time in 22 years but what a decision it was to choose Scotland.

“And to do it for my nan – it was really emotional for all the family when I spoke to them after the game.

“She’s not here anymore but they all said how proud she would be. If she was still here she would have had the whole street round – Covid or not! They’d have had some party.

“It’s been amazing to see all the messages coming in. Everyone’s in a great mood.

“In the back of our minds going into the Serbia game, we knew the joy we could bring to families back home. So to give that to people is really nice.

“That was one of the driving factors for us. When the manager spoke, it was about the game and being successful.

“He didn’t want us to go down the line of fear and what might not happen.”

Palmer got his Scotland debut on that horrible night in Kazakhstan when a 3- 0 pasting ultimately cost Alex McLeish his job as gaffer.

After another heavy defeat in Russia, the right- back couldn’t have possibly envisaged a place at Euro 2020.

But we’re there and now Palmer wants the players to keep the feelgood factor going by winning our next two Nations League games against Slovakia and Israel – to put one foot in World Cup 2022.

He said: “After Kazakhstan and Russia, a Euro finals seemed a million miles away.

“It took a lot for us to come back from the Russia game. We got a result against San Marino, which was expected, but it was massive for us in terms of resilience.

“From that time we’ve grown as a group in terms of our confidence.

“The manager isn’t one to take credit but he deserves it for the way he’s got us together, ga lvanised the g roup, culminating in Thursday night.

“It’s important that we build on this momentum and push forward to try and reach the World Cup now.

“That’s the manager’s message. We’ve had our time celebrating but there’s another big game on Sunday. We know how important these Nations League games can be, especially looking towards the World Cup now.

“We’re in a good position and we want to cement that over the next two games.”

Palmer, who is in line to start against Slovakia today, could barely watch the Serbia drama with his nerves jangling on the bench.

But he can now savour the prospect of being at the Euros along with his Scottish pals at Sheffield Wednesday.

He said: “It wasn’t good watching the game, I’d much rather have been playing!

“When they scored late on, we all rushed down to try to keep the boys’ heads up for the extra time and penalties.

“They’d done so well in the game so it was a kick in the teeth.

“But they managed to pick themselves up and get the job done. It’s amazing to be a part of it.

“The Scottish boys from Wednesday were the first to congratulate me when we got through, the likes of

Barry Bannan who’s still there and Steven Fletcher.

“They were as delighted as anyone for the group to make it.

“And our coach Lee

Bullen will be on my case as soon as I get back!”