‘Terrific’ Jack praised for way he battled boos

Ryan Jack has earned plaudits for the way he battled the boos at Pittodrie.

The former Aberdeen captain, who joined Rangers in the summer, made his debut for Scotland against Holland on Thursday night and was targeted by some supporters on his return to the Granite City.

The Aberdonian shrugged off the stick and put in a decent shift against the Dutch in an unfamiliar right-back role.

That earned him warm words from interim Scots boss Malky Mackay.

“I thought he was terrific and I thought he was calm out there,” said Mackay.

“There was a lot of debate around him concerning his sendings-off, how he and Rangers have played and the fact he was coming back to Aberdeen.

“I was playing him at right-back so there were a lot of things for the boy to think about.

“There was a lot of criticism about him getting picked in various quarters but I knew what I was going to get.

“I knew him from the Scotland U21s and he was as good a right-back that we have had at that level for years.

“I knew he was a boy who would die to play for Scotland,” added Mackay.

“When I told him I wanted him at

right-back he said he would play anywhere as long as he had a Scotland strip on. “That was a good start. “He showed technique out there and he was comfortable on the ball. “He was also tenacious. “That was Memphis Depay he was playing against – a top player – and he was doing that when out of his usual position.

“Did anybody get the better of him? No.

“Did he go and join in and handle things well. Yes, definitely.

“I was so happy for him.”

Picture: SNS Ryan Jack shrugged off stick.