Mclean: Scott has a case for the defence
Kenny Mclean is urging Aberdeen team-mate Scott Mckenna to kick on and prove he is the long-term answer to Scotland’s central defensive problems. Twenty-one-year-old Mckenna has been hailed by Alex Mcleish for the quality of his performances against Costa Rica and Hungary. As far as Mclean, who played alongside him in Budapest, is concerned, his positive start should be the platform on which to build an enduring international career. “Scott put in two excellent performances and didn’t look out of place at the level. I’m sure everyone would say that, it’s not just me being biased,” said Mclean. “The defence kept a clean sheet against Hungary, and surrendered just the one goal against Costa Rica, which wasn’t down to him, it was just an unlucky goal for the whole team.
“That’s great as there is real chance for someone in that position, because there have been a few different faces used there over the last few years. “I roomed with him when we were away for the games and I told him the opportunity was there.
“I’m not sure he needed to be told. He is a boy who goes out to work as hard as he can every day in training. “The performances you saw for Scotland, he puts them in every week for the club.” Aberdeen rejected three bids in the region of £300,000 for Mckenna from Hull City in the January window which Mclean, who is moving to Norwich in the summer, argues was in the player’s best interests.
“Scott is a young lad who’s getting better all the time. He keeps progressing,” he went on.
“He loves it at Pittodrie and loves working under Derek Mcinnes. “The good thing about him is he wants to get better all the time. “He is a dream to work with because he listens to everything, takes it all in and wants to be as good as he can be.
“I think there will be more offers, for sure. It is just a case of when the time is right for him. I am sure he will be advised right and he will go at the right time.
“I know it has worked out for me and I do think it needs to be the right club.
“There were other opportunities for me in the past, but I was enjoying my football at Aberdeen and was in no rush to move on. “When I went down and spoke to Norwich everything just felt right. “I watched them a few times and spoke to the manager about the way he wanted to play and it suited me.
“Scott will know when the time is right. Another year at Aberdeen, though, will do him no harm at all.”