Barrie has cap hopes from left field
BARRIE McKAY believes Scotland’s marauding left-backs can help launch his international career.
The Rangers winger has been called up for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Lithuania and Slovakia.
McKay has formed a profitable club partnership with Lee Wallace on the left flank.
And he is sure he can be just as successful if paired with Andy Robertson or Kieran Tierney.
He went on: “I played with Andy in the Under-21s and we played quite well.
“I’ve never played with Tierney but all three full-backs want to get forward. That will help me.”
McKay, an unused substitute when Gordon Strachan’s men won 5-1 in Malta last month, is hopeful of getting some game time for his country in the near future.
He said: “Gordon Strachan spoke to me after Malta and said that I will get a chance.
“He said I’ve been doing well and need to keep going and pushing myself.
“Although you are disappointed not to play, to go away and get that experience, even just watching the game, was great.”
McKay, 21, has already accumulated a huge amount of experience at club level.
He said: “I went on loan at Morton in 2013 where it was a relegation battle and that helped me see that side of football.
“Then I went to Raith and we were fighting for the play-offs.
“I think I’ve probably seen every side of football.
“I played in Morton’s 10-2 defeat by Hamilton and you can cope with almost anything after that.
“I definitely felt a million miles from being a Scotland player then but I was still young and learning my trade.”
Although relishing his role on the wing, McKay believes there’s more to his game.
He added: “I think in an ideal world I would like to play number 10. I enjoy playing wide but the freedom the manager gives me at Rangers means I can drift in.”