Debut cap would be parents’ reward

SCOTLAND: Fraser hopes to repay mum and dad for support in his career

Ryan Fraser will dedicate his Scotland debut to his parents should he play in the friendly against Canada tonight.

The Bournemouth midfielder is expected to make his first appearance for his country at Easter Road and wants to pay back his mum Debbie and dad Graeme for the sacrifices they made to help him make it as a player.

Fraser (23), who joined the English Premier League side from Aberdeen four years ago, will be eternally grateful for the crucial contribution from his family members, even as he strides the big stage down south.

His father gave up a well-paid job in the Middle East to return to Scotland and allow his son to join the Dons’ youth team.

Now, if he gets a chance to pull on the Scotland jersey this evening, Fraser knows it will be a proud moment for his parents to see their son run on to the pitch in dark blue.

Fraser said: “I used to live in Oman in the Middle East when my dad used to work offshore in the oil industry. “I had a ball and I used to just kick it about. “My dad was never good at sport. “When my dad thought I was good at football at a young age, though, he quit his job and came back over to Aberdeen to get me in the team.

“If it weren’t for that, I might still be in the Middle East somewhere.”

“It was a huge sacrifice because my dad would have been on good money working offshore,” added Fraser.

“There were no guarantees I would make it as a player but he gave up a lot just so that I had a chance.

“So if I were to get a cap it would be for him and my mum because they lost and then spent a lot of money on me to put me through teams and camps and courses when I was young.

“I want to repay them with a cap and every game in the Premier League I am trying to do well for myself and to make my family proud.”

While Fraser is grateful for his dad’s decision to move back to the north-east, it is his mum he has to thank for his speed.

“My mum was a 100 metres sprinter for Scotland and that’s where I probably get my pace from,” he said. “She is actually faster than me – a lot faster.

“Mum is injured right now but if we had a sprint down the street she would still nearly beat me.

“She was going to run in the Olympics and then she had a knee injury which needed an operation and that ended her hopes.”

Meanwhile, Tom Cairney is desperate to make sure his relationship with the national team is more than fleeting.

The Fulham midfielder has played at under-19 and under-21 level but received his first call-up to Gordon Strachan’s squad for the double-header against Canada and Slovenia.

Cairney, born in Nottingham but who qualifies through his Scottish father, described his inclusion as “brilliant” and is keen to make sure he is part of the senior set-up for years to come.

“I don’t want to be a flash in the pan,” the 26-year-old said.

“I want to be a part of the squad for a number of years, as tough as that it is. Once I am in I would like to stay in if I can.

“I wanted it for a long time but to get the call-up was quite surprising in a way. I was waiting for international breaks and it has never happened so when it happened for the first time, no matter how the season has gone, is surprising.

“A few boys kept saying to me last season and this season ‘when is it happening?’ But obviously it is out of my hands. I did what I normally did and thankfully that is enough.”

Tonight’s friendly is a warm-up for Sunday’s World Cup qualifier.

Tom Cairney: aims to be part of the squad for years to come.