SHIN WITH A SCOTS SHOUT
ANTHoNy HaggeRTy
DEREK McINNES reckons Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie can become a Scotland mainstay.
The versatile midfielder collected his third cap off the bench in the 4-0 friendly defeat to Belgium then was an unused sub in Monday’s Nations League triumph over Albania.
But Pittodrie gaffer McInnes is adamant the 27-year-old, who was also part of Scotland’s summer trip to the Americas, has left a lasting impression on Alex McLeish.
McInnes, whose side face St Johnstone tomorrow, said: “Sometimes you have to go through the whole process, get your minutes, keep clocking up that experience and keep being in the eye of the manager through your training.
“Graeme’s a very good trainer so it’s just about making those impressions when he gets the chance.
“In time hopefully all those minutes and all those impressions he makes on the manager will maybe lead to those starts.
“That’s the end game but it’s great for him to be involved in both games for experience and mixing with the country’s best BY iaN oRR players. Graeme should be right at the heart of that.
“I’m delighted he got on the pitch although it was a disappointing result against Belgium.
“But we got a very good result on Monday. It was a strong performance and hopefully Graeme’s got a part to play. I’ve no doubt he will have and hopefully we have others who can force their way in as well.”
McInnes was busy during the international break and sealed new deals for promising youngsters Bruce Anderson and Dean Campbell.
Speaking to Red TV, the Dons gaffer said: “We think a lot of Bruce and Dean.
“Both are different types of players and have a real feeling for the club.
“They are happy being here and desperate to play an even bigger role in the future for the first team.
“We believe both players are capable of that and they’ve been with us for a while now.
“It’s great the young lads see that opportunity to be here longer. Both have a good temperament and hopefully we’ll see a lot more of them.” a.haggerty@dailyrecord.co.uk bouncing it will be a helluva buzz. It feels almost poetic that it’s Celtic in the first game.
“Being at home against the league champions is the perfect way to start. It’s the game I wanted to start off with. There is so much motivation.
“It’s the Friday night lights, live on TV – if players aren’t up for that and ready for it then I don’t know.
“It’s a great start. As a player and manager you aspire to reach the top. I’m looking forward to locking horns with Brendan – professionally and from an ambition point of view. He and Michael O’Neill are the standard bearers for coaches from my country.
“Both of those guys have been exceptional in what they have achieved in a short period of time.
“I had a good conversation with Brendan and also Neil Lennon before my first interview in the summer.
“When I was flying across here on Saturday morning I got a nice text from Brendan welcoming me across and saying he was looking forward to tonight. Did