I’m gutted injury will rule me out of our big games again but my wife to be is delighted
McLean can go ahead with his wedding plans after broken toe continues his big-match jinx with Scotland
He has been left devastated for the second summer on the spin.
And Scotland gaffer Steve Clarke is gutted he’s not in his squad for the World Cup play-off tie with Ukraine.
But despite suffering another injury blow that rules him out for his country, Kenny McLean will make someone happy next week.
His wife-to-be Brogan Rooney. McLean cancelled their wedding a year ago ahead of Euro 2020, having played a huge part in getting his country to the finals.
But on the eve of the tournament he was forced to pull out injured.
This year he’d put the marriage date on hold in the hope of being able to help Scotland reach Qatar 2022.
But a broken toe, picked up while play ing for Norwich against Manchester United, has put paid to that and left him on the sidelines again.
And while he’d love to be in Clarke’s team at Hampden on Wednesday night, at least the new Mrs McLean will have her big day.
The Canaries midfielder says he’s mentally tough enough to cope with sitting out more big games for Scotland.
And he has vowed to get himself back as soon as possible – to try to fulfil his World Cup dream.
McLean told MailSport: “I’ve been really unlucky with Scotland, picking up injuries at bad times.
“Last summer I missed the biggest games the country have had in so many years.
“And this year it’s the same, I’m missing the games that could get us to the World Cup.
“It’s not ideal and my timing is just terrible.
“Last year I cancelled my wedding because it was during the Euros.
“Then I got injured and, by that time, it was too late to go ahead with the ceremony.
“This year I’ve had the wedding on hold for months.
“Because of this injury I can now crack on with it next week.
“My missus has never been happier for me to have a broken toe!
“I’m quite good at dealing with the knocks.
“Of course, I’m saying to myself: ‘How can this happen to me again at this time?’
“I’m missing the biggest Scotland games I might ever have been involved in. So obviously it’s disappointing.
“But there’s nothing I can do about it. That’s why you need to get your head around it – you’re powerless to change anything.
“I’ve just been so unfortunate to have these situations.
“Now I’ ll watch the games as a Scotland fan. I’ll go on holiday before the wedding and enjoy myself with family and friends.
“Both situations have happened in the summer.
“So I can at least get away and chill out with my family, which makes it a bit easier.”
It is McLean’s commitment to his club’s cause that has ultimately ruled him out for his country.
While Norwich still had a chance to stay in the Premier League, he wanted to aid their survival bid under boss Dean Smith.
He played on with the injury but only made it worse.
And now he’s paying the price by having to sit out Scotland’s crunch play-off ties – as well as Nations League games. McLean said: “I broke my toe against Man United over a month ago.
“It was a tackle and I was in pain but I didn’t realise what I’d done.
“I didn’t want to be going off with a sore toe. But I couldn’t run or push off so eventually I had to leave the field with 15 minutes to go.
“That night and the next day, my whole foot was black and blue.
“I had an X-ray and there was a break in my second toe on my left foot. But although things were looking bleak at Norwich, we still had a slim chance of staying up.
“So we injected it before games. I wasn’t training but I was getting through matches.
“That was making it worse and the pain on a Sunday was brutal.
“Because we had a chance of staying in the league I wanted to play.
“But before the Aston Villa game – when we ended up being relegated – I did the warm- up and the injection wasn’t working.
“I was in agony. There was too much swelling in my toe for the painkiller to have an effect.
“I didn’t play, we went down and that was it.
“Unfortunately, I’d made the injury worse. If I’d stopped at the time then I’d probably have been fit for the Scotland games.
“But while we still had a chance of survival at Norwich, I wanted to try to help the team.
“It has killed me for these matches because I’m now looking at getting back on the grass in the second week in June.
“With the Scotland games coming up, that’s a kick in the nuts.” McLean is
My terri timin ‘ ble.. gis how I can think happ this be enin g again
?’
a valued member of Clarke’s set-up and the manager said as much when he unveiled the squad to face Ukraine last week.
That’s why the door is still open for the 30-year-old to get himself back in the plans next season and – if we make it – on the flight to Qatar.
He said: “I still feel part of the group even though I’m not there.
“It’s nice to hear the manager talk about me in a good light.
“We’ve always got on well together, we’ve got a good relationship.
“It’s just disappointing not to be there. But the squad he has picked is good enough t o ge t us through these t w o hu g e play- off ties.
“I’m guttedd I can’t help but hopefully thee boys can do it and get us to the finals.
“Then I’ll need to get fit again and work my way back into the squad because there’s someone else in my place right now.
“Everyone wants a seat on the plane to Qatar if we get there and I’m no different. EvEven boy s wwho aren’t invinvolved just now wi l l be l ook ing and thinkithinking: ‘ If I can have a good six months, I cacan get in.’ “That’s all it mightmig take and the stakes are so high.
“The gaffer has been loyal with boys and put faith in them.
“But if someone else comes in and does the job they’ll be rewarded for doing well.”