SEEING ME WEAR A SCOTLAND JERSEY WOULD HELP MAKE MY FATHER’S DAY

DESPITE making his international debut at the relatively late age of 27, Colin Hendry went on to become the stand-out symbol of Scotland’s team the last time this country savoured a major tournament back in 1998.

How, then, could Lancashire-born Callum possibly consider playing for the country of his birth if invited to do so? Don’t worry. He couldn’t.

‘I am getting stick for having a posh accent from the St Johnstone boys,’ admits Hendry. ‘If I had the choice, I’d never, ever put on an England top. Never.

‘I always grew up feeling Scottish and that will never change. I was born in Blackburn, my dad was there. I wish I wasn’t but I was. I’d just love to put on a Scotland top. It would be the pinnacle for me.

‘I think that would mean so much to my dad, it would be the world to him. He’s proud as it is seeing me wearing a St Johnstone top and being involved in a first-team squad.

‘But anything over and above that would make a lot of people proud. I’d love to play for Scotland at Under-21 level or something like that, but that’s a long way off because I’ve only just got started.

‘There was some talk about me playing for the Scotland schoolboys years ago but I ended up doing my knee and missed out.

‘So the chance might have been there in the past.’

MOTHER’S PRIDE: Denise Hendry, who tragically passed away in 2009, poses with her children (clockwise from top left) Rheagan, Kyle, Niamh and Callum, and with her husband Colin (left) whose career peaked when Scotland took on Brazil in the 1998 World...