McKenna delighted by ‘regimented’ Considine’s Scotland call-up

Scott McKenna has seen a new rival for a place in the Scotland back line emerge in impressive fashion and he could not be happier.

The Kirriemuir-born Nottingham Forest centreback missed last month’s triple header through injury and the Scotland defence became even more stretched when Kieran Tierney and Liam Cooper dropped out.

Steve Clarke turned to Aberdeen defender Andy Considine and the 33-yearold helped Scotland keep another two clean sheets to make it three on the trot and four victories in a row.

McKenna is back in the squad ahead of tonight’s Euro 2020 final play-off against Serbia in Belgrade and is delighted to have his former Dons team-mate Considine for company.

“I couldn’t have been any happier for Andy ,” McKenna said.

“Obviously I played probably nearly all my games for Aberdeen, more than 100 games, next to Andy, whether he was left-back or centre-back. And the help he gave me even since I was a kid com ing though the academy at Aberdeen, he helped me so much. So I couldn’t have been any happier for him and I couldn’t wait to text him when I heard the news.

“Even when I was settling into the team, having that experience next to me, any time I made a mistake he was there to clear up for me. The bits of information he gave me on the pitch helped me massively.

“I have no doubt that Andy played a massive part in getting me to where I am just now.

“You will struggle to find a better professional than Andy. He is so regimented in everything he does. He doesn’t change much at all and that’s probably why at the age he is he never misses a training session, never misses any games.

“The two games he played last month for Scotland showed exactly why everyone was campaigning for him to get that call-up. It’s just good both of us are here and both trying to push everyone in the squad for that place in the starting XI.”

Meanwhile, Scotland goalkeeper coach Stevie Woods insists the national team are in rude health when it comes to options in goal.

Derby County shotstopper David Marshall has established himself as the number one and is set to start in tonight’s crucial play-off final against Serbia.

However, Woods, who also fills the same role at Celtic, insists the dugout team of Ste ve C l arke, Ste ven Reid and John Carver have been pleasantly surprised by Craig Gordon’s form after recalling the Hearts goalkeeper to the squad.

Woods said: “I think that was the first time the guys had seen Craig since he’s come back and playing regularly and I think they were all quite pleasantly surprised at the level he was at.”