McLean ready to take his chance
IT says a lot for Kenny McLean’s mentality that he seemed to up his game in his final months as an Aberdeen player.
Loaned back to the Pittodrie club after sealing a transfer to Norwich City in the winter window, there were no signs that the midfielder was holding anything back as Derek McInnes’s side mined consistent form to fend off Rangers and Hibs to secure second place in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
Had McLean and team-mates Graeme Shinnie and Shay Logan not been suspended for the semi-final against Motherwell, he might even have had a crack at a Scottish Cup winner’s medal this weekend.
The 26-year-old is in line to add to his three Scotland caps on the impending trip to Peru and Mexico. And, while national coach Alex McLeish has been hit with a raft of call-offs, only injury between now and Tuesday’s departure will stop McLean from travelling. He said: ‘To represent your country is the biggest honour there is in my opinion. I think the next couple of weeks will be excellent. ‘I want to push to get in the starting XI. It’s a massive chance for everybody but you need to be selfish in these situations and look after yourself.’ With Callum McGregor, James McArthur, Tom Cairney and Kevin McDonald all excused from the trip for varying reasons, there are places up for grabs in midfield and McLean would also like to see Aberdeen captain Shinnie given a chance. Although a lynchpin for McInnes for three years, Shinnie was repeatedly overlooked during Gordon Strachan’s time in charge and has yet to make his international debut.
‘I’m sure Graeme never begrudged anybody else his place but I know he wanted to be involved,’ continued McLean. ‘I’m delighted for him because I see the work he puts in.
‘He has been my captain at Aberdeen and everything he does is so professional. He has been desperate for this opportunity and I have no doubt he will grab it with both hands.’
Just as McLean believes he is good enough to claim for a place in the Scotland team, he is looking forward to making the leap over the border.
‘I’ve always wanted to go to England and test myself against really good players,’ he added. ‘I wouldn’t put myself in this situation if I didn’t think I could handle it. I’ve got confidence in my own ability. I think I can go there and really impress.’