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Welsh an inspiration for McKay and Scots
BORN in December 1994, Barrie McKay was just three years old when Scotland last competed at a World Cup. The speedy Rangers attacker is part of a growing generation of players who can’t even recall a time when their national team appeared at a major tournament.
Inspiration has come of late, however, from watching the incredible efforts of another small home nation, who are currently putting us to shame.
And after seeing Wales forward Hal Robson-Kanu deliver a Cruyff turn while scoring one of the goals of Euro 2016 against Belgium, McKay is desperate to create some memorable moments of his own with Scotland on the big stage.
Having been called up by Gordon Strachan for end-of-season friendlies against Italy and France, McKay would love to play his part on the Road to Russia 2018.
‘I’ve always watched Scotland when they are playing but never at a major finals,’ he said. ‘I have no memories of that at all.
‘But I’ve been watching the Euros recently and when you see players scoring and the fans and players going crazy it makes you think.
‘I’ve said to a few of my friends: “What a feeling that would be to score at a Euros”.
‘It’s definitely an ambition of mine to say I have scored at a European Championships or a World Cup.
‘In the Euros, they have all been big goals but when I watched Robson-Kanu score that goal for Wales, you have to say it’s probably bad defending. But, at the same time, he has sold three top international players a dummy and put the goal away nicely.
‘Northern Ireland and Wales have done really well. But if Scotland just got to a major finals, then maybe we could do something like that, as well. We need to try to get through this next qualifying campaign.’
McKay believes a sprinkling of the next generation of talent, like John McGinn, Callum Paterson and Jason Cummings, could help the country end its 20-year wait to reach a major finals.
‘I enjoyed meeting up with the full squad recently,’ he said.
‘I already knew Steven Naismith from Rangers and Steven Fletcher because my agent is friends with him. I also got to know the likes of Matt Ritchie when I was away.
‘They are all great lads and they all welcomed me into the squad.
‘Gordon Strachan brought a few of us younger boys in for the last couple of games to get us in amongst the squad and I think he could do that with some others, too, and still have the right mix of youth and experience. If you are old enough you are good enough.
‘Look at John McGinn. He went in and started for Scotland on his first-team debut and got the man of the match in a friendly against Denmark.
‘I just think there are a few players from the Under-21s who could also make that jump. Can we help Scotland get there? I think definitely!
‘But right now I just want to keep doing well for Rangers and see what happens. If that means being in the Under-21s again, or back with the full squad, I would be delighted.’
A lot has been written previously about the remarkable turnaround in McKay’s career. Having initially been sent out on loan from Rangers to Morton then Raith Rovers, he became a key player for Mark Warburton last season en route to Scotland recognition.
But, as he kicks off pre-season tonight with the Ibrox club against Charleston Battery here in South Carolina, he knows he can’t afford to let his standards slip.
With Warburton having brought in eight summer recruits, including Niko Kranjcar and Joey Barton, the manager won’t have far to look if any of his star performers from last season fail to kick on.
‘If I don’t perform I won’t play, simple as that,’ admitted McKay, who cited the belief shown in him by Warburton and assistant David Weir as the key to his rapid rise. ‘I just need to keep performing to get into the team — and stay there. ‘There’s a lot of competition for places now but I welcome that. It’s healthy because it makes you push yourself a lot more. ‘The signings the boss has brought in are high quality but they can only make the side better. ‘He (Kranjcar) is a very intelligent player. You can see the quality level go up even further. ‘It’s a joy to train with him and knock one-twos with him because he’s such a clever, quality player. ‘But it was the same last season. I had to push myself to perform better than the player who already had the shirt. Last year I was enjoying my football and played a lot and I hope to play a lot again this season.’
The highlight of McKay’s season was his terrific goal in April’s Scottish Cup semi-final win over Celtic.
His aims for next season are simply more goals, more assists and more medals.
And he’s in no doubt that Rangers can beat Celtic, Hearts and Aberdeen to lift the Scottish Premiership title at the first time of asking since promotion.
‘We can definitely challenge for the title,’ he said.
‘We are looking to win every competition we go into, whether it is the league or the cups.
‘We won the semi-final against Celtic last season and it was good for the fans to have the bragging rights.
‘I still have people Tweeting me about the goal. It was a great feeling to score and I do still enjoy watching it.
‘But that game is out the window. It’s a brand new season and it’s all about bragging rights in the next one.’