Dons star goes from U20s cup to skippering Scotland in 12 months

GARY RALSTON

g.ralston@dailyrecord.co.uk started all four games and played 90 minutes in each of them is more than I could have dreamed.

“It has been a crazy season. My first game was against St Johnstone in the Challenge Cup for the Under-20s and I went on to play three or four first team games after that and then the Scotland Under-21 game against Holland changed everything.”

McKenna was a standout in the game at St Mirren as the Scots won 2-0 in their opening Euro 2019 qualifier, just four years after the Dutch had thumped them 10-1 on aggregate at a similar stage of the same competition.

His performance underlined the belief of Derek McInnes he could anchor his defence around his burgeoning talent – and McKenna has never looked back.

He added: “I played quite well that match and Derek was there to watch it and he trusted in me from then on in. He put me in against Motherwell and even after a bad result, we lost 2-0, he stuck by me.

“It’s been pretty full on, one thing after another and I’ve enjoyed every single moment. I don’t think it will sink in for another couple of weeks when I’m away on holiday.

“It’s been a long way to travel for these two games but I’m thankful for the opportunity. A number of young boys have made the step up from the Under-21s and we’d all have bitten an arm off for the chance to be here.

“There have been long flights, yes, but it’s something we have to do. We have all enjoyed the experience and we want to be back for more.”

The Scots defence were swamped against the Mexicans but McKenna still stood tall, barking out orders and instructions to more seniors pros.

He said: “Mexico are definitely up there in terms of the best I’ve faced and the altitude and the heat made it even more difficult.

“Hopefully, with more experienced players coming back in we’ll have a group with the ability to do well in the next qualifying campaign.”