Young Scots take positives from Pittodrie performance

McGregor insists Celtic team-mate Tierney has proved he’s ideal fit to captain next generation

THE Scotland captain’s armband hung on a Pittodrie peg above the jersey of the youngest player in the entire squad. From the seasoned Craig Gordon on 52 caps to the debutant Jason Cummings, not one international batted an eyelid.

That’s the esteem in which Kieran Tierney, skipper of Scotland at the age of 20, is held by his colleagues.

That’s how in tune Malky Mackay’s players were with their interim manager’s thinking that Thursday night’s friendly wasn’t a game to be wasted, to mark time.

It was a meaningful pointer to a future seen through a Euro 2020 vision and beyond.

Tierney became the youngest captain since Darren Fletcher against Estonia in 2004 by leading out the national side against Holland, then was tipped by Mackay to earn over 100 caps and skipper Scotland for a decade.

Callum McGregor, a belated debutant in Aberdeen, regards himself as one privileged young man to have been present on the evening that 10 years of his club pal ‘KT’ captaining Scotland began.

‘When we walked in to the dressing room, we saw the armband at his place and you just took that as normal,’ said McGregor. ‘He’s unbelievable. To be captain of your country so young shows he has the mentality to do it. It was another great performance and he seems to be getting better and better.

‘He played centre-half and he’s now adding all that comes with that to his game. But wherever you play him, he’s going to give you a good performance. I’m delighted for him. He deserves it.

‘He’s been outstanding for Celtic since he came into the team and he’s carried it on to international football.

‘He’s just not fazed by anything, I don’t think so. He’s a level-headed boy and he takes it all in his stride.

‘He’s one who leads by example rather than shouting at people. You can get two different types of captain — one’s vocal and the other leads by example. He’s probably in the latter category in terms of his performances and the way he goes about his business. He’s shown the rest of us the standard.

‘I’d probably say Broony (Scott Brown) is a bit more vocal! You can probably hear him in the stands. But Broony leads by example as well — he’s actually got both of those sides to his character. That comes with experience.

‘There’s no reason why Kieran wouldn’t be our next natural leader after Darren Fletcher and Broony.

‘Holland was his first as captain and he did well. And for the size of him, you never see him getting beaten in the tackle or losing a 50-50. He’s strong in the tackle.’

As Scotland’s best player in a generation earned his ninth cap by taking over the honour from the rested Brown, McGregor offered a display that increased the bafflement over the length of time it took him to earn a cap.

The talented 24-year-old was routinely snubbed by Gordon Strachan since a shock call-up for the Euro 2016 qualifying opener against Germany in September 2014.

He managed to avoid detection by the Netherlands for much of the night, too, finding pockets of space to exhibit quick feet, a clever touch and penetrative passes.

The level of opponent was never going to be daunting for this Champions League performer even without his lack of experience of the national game.

Unfortunately, none of this creative work, nor his own powerful second-half drive beaten away by Jasper Cillessen, resulted in a goal, so Memphis Depay’s 40th-minute conversion of the visitors’ one real opportunity settled the friendly.

‘It was a proud moment, I thought I did OK,’ said McGregor. ‘I had a few good turns, slid a few people in, got a few shots at goal. We had loads of chances, especially second half. We had to try to put one away.

‘It was a good week’s work. Malky’s come in and freshened it up a bit. There were loads of fresh faces and the training was good.

‘The intensity was good as well. Everybody was flying going into the game and I thought we gave a good account of ourselves. The intensity was the same as I’m used to at club level. I think that was what he wanted to get across.

‘To create 18 chances is positive against a top country like Holland, everybody should take comfort from that. It’s early doors and we’re building towards the next campaign

but it’s good to see the team playing good attacking football.’

Ryan Christie was a key part of that from his left flank posting. Lost, perhaps, amid the disappointment of not yet making the breakthrough at Celtic is that the former Inverness Caley Thistle forward is still only 22.

McGregor and James Forrest did not fully blossom until 24 and 25, so time remains on the side of the Aberdeen loan man whose confidence has clearly been given a shot in the arm by the inclusion in Mackay’s ‘future of Scotland’ side.

‘In terms of Callum, he’s a great person for me to look up to,’ stated Christie. ‘He went away on his (Notts County) loan, came back and now the football he’s playing is brilliant. I’ve seen it in training myself and we all saw it for Scotland — the technical ability he has, that’s the level I am trying to get to as well.

‘Callum is a great player. When the World Cup campaign was going on, it was hard for him to push his way in there with only a few games to go because I think the manager goes with the players who have been around. It’s harder on that stage.

‘He did brilliantly against Holland and he’s done himself no harm now. I’m just happy I managed to get on loan to Aberdeen when I did because I felt I was probably plateauing a bit as a footballer and that can only be detrimental to your career.’

Christie credits Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes for the huge influence in his displays at club level since moving to the north east last January. However, it appears neither of them considered the loan arrangement might lead to kick-starting a Scotland career.

‘To be honest, when I came up on loan to Aberdeen, I didn’t think that was even a possibility to get into the national squad and the manager here didn’t mention that to me at all,’ explained Christie.

‘I just thought I needed to get consistent and get my form back up at club level before I even thought I’d come close to this. I just wanted to be playing football again because I enjoyed my time up here so much last season. To find out I was in, there was complete disbelief and I was over the moon.

‘To play against these world-class players of Holland was an unbelievable experience. Going into the game, I just wanted to make sure I didn’t look out of place. I felt good out there. It’s up to me and a few of the other boys to keep going at club level so we stay in the mix.

‘Derek McInnes has been a massive factor in this. He and his staff let players like me express myself every weekend. That gives me so much confidence and self-belief. I owe them for doing that for me.’