Liam is finally shaking off the links to his ‘dad’
Having made his debut in the nightmare that was Kazakhstan, Liam Palmer had good reason to fear confusion over his family background would outlive his Scotland career.
Qualified to wear the dark blue through his Carluke-born grandmother, the 27- year- old would have also been able to play for England.
That, though, is down to the fact he was born and bred in Worksop – not because he is the son of former Three Lions star, Carlton Palmer!
Fake Wikipedia entries can leave quite a trail. To this day a quick Google check involving the words “Carlton Palmer son” will lead you straight to a picture of the Scotland right-back.
There are, of course, obvious connections, not least the fact he plays for Sheffield Wednesday, who Carlton starred for in the early 1990s.
Liam’s real dad, Terry, is a painter and decorator.
Of far more concern, to Liam, however, is his continuing campaign to establish himself as Scotland’s firstchoice right-back.
That seemed a long way off after his first appearance, in the traumatising 3-0 defeat to Kazakhstan back in March.
The humiliating loss helped scupper the country’s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2020 via the conventional route, and was central to the SFA’S subsequent dismissal of Alex Mcleish.
It also had the effect of shunting Palmer down the list when it came time for Mcleish’s successor Steve
Clarke to select his teams.
However, with Stephen O’donnell having found it tough going against Russia at Hampden and again in the away game with Belgium, Palmer got his chance and took it by showing up well in the double-header away to Russia and at home to San Marino.
“Kazakhstan was bitterly disappointing,” said the Owls man.
“It was a bit of a learning curve straight away of what’s required in terms of the preparation side of things when you are travelling away.
“Coming in and being on the end of that result, you knew there were going to be changes afterwards.
“I had only the one cap and the manager had not seen too much of me at that time. So it was understandable I was one of the ones to make way.
“You get these nights and after them you are a bit more clued up, because it is a case of learn on the job and go from there.
“Hopefully now having played the last couple, and with my club form being OK as well, I can keep knocking on the manager’s door for a game.
“That is the way it is. You want to be involved in the play-offs next March.
“You want to win. You want to go to a major tournament. That is what we are all here for, so I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to be a first-choice pick. “Hopefully, next month I’ll get called up again and we can pick up two good results.”
If Scotland get-togethers could not exactly have been described as a barrel of laughs in recent months, last Sunday’s 6-0 hammering of San Marino did at least put a smile on the face of the players and fans alike.
“It was nice to end on a positive after the start of the week that we had,” said Palmer.
“You can only beat what’s in front of you, and the boys showed a great attitude from the start and again in the second half. We started well and set the tone throughout the game.
“The aim was always to build momentum for the trip to Cyprus next month.
“Russia didn’t quite work out, unfortunately. But against San Marino we put in a performance that we can be positive about, and a bit more upbeat, and take that into the next camp.
“We can only look forward now and our objectives haven’t changed. March is something to look forward to and build towards and that is what we have done.”
If Palmer’s participation can pretty much be counted on – provided he stays fit at least – the same cannot be said of his Sheffield Wednesday teammate, Steven Fletcher.
“Steven was on to me straight after the San Marino game. He was happy about the result but it’s difficult to know if he will be back for the play-offs,” said Palmer.
“All I can say is he has been in great form for us. You look at what he brings to the team both in terms of his goals and his general play. He is a big focal point for us.
“He has struggled with a couple of ankle injuries but he has come through them. He is just trying to manage himself, really.
“It would be great to see him playing the way he has been playing for us in a Scotland shirt.
“You could see when he played in the games in the Nations League qualifiers that he brought a real attacking presence to the team.
“He gave the other boys someone to play off, and they love that.”