Doidge driven to go again after his Euro 2020 woes
CHRISTIAN DOIDGE insists being robbed of a shot at glory with Wales has only made him more determined to earn a crack at the European Championships.
The Hibernian frontman was on the cusp of his maiden international call-up prior to the coronavirus outbreak forcing a halt to Scottish football.
The 27-year-old’s 16 goals in his previous 23 outings had caught the eye of Dragons manager Ryan Giggs, with the Manchester United icon revealing Doidge was on his radar and ‘someone who we’re looking at closely’.
It is likely Doidge would have been named in the squad for March friendlies against Austria and the USA and told to stake a claim for a place at Euro 2020.
That tournament has now been shelved until next summer and Doidge will need to prove himself all over again when football resumes.
However, Doidge has completed a remarkable journey from being a cop with South Wales Police and playing amateur football on the side, to the cusp of international recognition – so he is not about to throw in the towel now.
He said: “Ryan Giggs is a massive figure for anyone who grew up in Wales and I looked up to him when I was a kid – so when you get someone like that talking about you, and saying positive things, it was a really proud moment for me and my family.
“I’d love to take that next step and work under him one day.
“I was getting a bit of momentum this season, a lot of media coverage and there was a fair bit of talk about a Wales call-up.
“My mentality is: I’ve got to do it again. If I was close to a call-up, then I need to hit the same levels and get even closer when the football starts again.
“I never imagined I would even be in the conversation for a Wales call-up, especially when the Euros were approaching, so it has just given me more motivation to score goals and regain that form.”
Like the majority of his team-mates, Doidge has been furloughed amid the ongoing uncertainty regarding when a ball will next be kicked in the SPFL. But even if the Premiership campaign is called, Doidge is desperate for the Hampden power-brokers to find a way to ensure the 2019/20 Scottish Cup is played to its conclusion.
Hibs were due to face Hearts in a mouth-watering semi-final on April 11 and Doidge has openly admits that he was overcome with a galling feeling of what might have been when that date came around.
He continued: “I remember the day we were supposed to be playing Hearts. I woke up and had a sense of ‘this doesn’t seem right’.
“We know how much the fans get up for those matches and, honestly, we are just the same as players. As soon as that draw was made, we had the date circled on the calendar! So it was a bit sad when the day came around.
“Hopefully, we can still get that game played. It would be disappointing if the league can’t be finished but if we still have the opportunity to play the cup then I’m sure the fans and everyone at the football club would be slightly happier.”
Doidge’s only experience of Hampden was a bruising
5-2 battering by Celtic in the last four of the Betfred Cup in November – and he’s itching for the opportunity to make amends.
He added: “I’m keen to get back to Hampden and rectify the Betfred Cup defeat.
“I’ve had a big moment at Wembley in my career and that feeling still gives me butterflies now. So to possibly get that opportunity again, this time at Hampden, is something that really motivates me.”