DISCARDED DONS
Only lifting Cup will earn caps, says Miller
THERE are still 11 days to go until the start of British Summer Time but, up in Aberdeen, the clocks are once more being wound back.
Niall McGinn’s late strike in a 1-0 win over Motherwell last Saturday saw the Dons record eight consecutive victories at Pittodrie for the first time since 1986.
Under Alex Ferguson that season, Aberdeen went on to win nine in a row, which means that only visitors Hearts stand in the way this weekend of the current team matching a 31-year-old record.
Comparisons with the final term of the Ferguson era are nothing new for Derek McInnes.
Last season, his men set a new club-record start to a campaign by winning eight out of eight, beating the previous best set under Ferguson in 1985-86.
Their latest bid to rewrite the record books comes in a campaign where they sit eight points clear of third-placed Rangers and one match away from their second final of the season, when they face Hibernian in the Scottish Cup semi-final on Saturday, April 22.
Despite turning back the clock to establish themselves as Scottish football’s second force, a lack of international recognition for their players in the national side continues to irk the club.
After watching his side blow Motherwell away 7-2 in front of Gordon Strachan last month, McInnes took the unusual step of talking up his players for a call-up from the former Aberdeen star now in charge of Scotland.
‘I don’t normally say this because I’ve got too much respect (for Strachan) but Kenny McLean and Ryan Jack are international players, there’s no question for me,’ said McInnes at the time. ‘Graeme Shinnie wasn’t playing tonight but I think he’s an international player, too.’
Even so, the Dons trio remained conspicuous by their absence when Strachan this week named a 30-man squad to face Canada in a friendly next Wednesday, followed by the crucial World Cup qualifier against Slovenia at Hampden four days later.
In Strachan’s defence, it has to be pointed out that the Aberdeen contingent’s omission can be explained by the fact they are seeking a place in an area of the squad where — alongside left-back and goalkeeper — the Scotland manager has an embarrassment of riches.
Scott Brown, Darren Fletcher, Barry Bannan, Oliver Burke, James Forrest, James McArthur, James Morrison, John McGinn, Matt Ritchie and Robert Snodgrass all retained their places, leaving room for four new faces — three of whom are uncapped but unarguably deserving of recognition.
As well as Stuart Armstrong, there is Fulham’s Tom Cairney, who is rated by Strachan as potentially the best midfielder in the English Championship, and Ryan Fraser, who has been scintillating for Bournemouth in the English Premier League.
Matt Phillips of West Bromwich Albion also earned a recall to the squad on the back of a season that has seen him provide eight assists, as well as five goals. Aberdeen’s Jack, McLean and Shinnie are far from the only unlucky contenders for the Scotland engine room.
Jamie Walker, for example, has scored 15 goals from midfield for Hearts this season.
Kevin McDonald, George Boyd, and even the currently off-form Ross McCormack may also consider themselves unfortunate not to be involved.
‘I was asked about Kenny being left out and Ryan Jack doing well — although Ryan wasn’t getting a game for a while,’ said Strachan.
‘Mark McGhee and I drove up to watch Newcastle against Fulham on Saturday and Fulham were terrific. Kevin McDonald was the second-best player on the pitch (behind Cairney).
‘There are a lot of good midfielders being left out and there are arguments (that can be made) for all of them. If you look at the central midfield we have got, it is very good.
‘They (McLean, Jack and Shinnie) are unfortunate that they play in the same area of the team where I’ve so much depth and competition.’
Aberdeen legend Willie Miller believes the best way the Dons trio can get themselves into international contention is by turning the clock back — this time, to 1990.
The 61-year-old reckons that bringing the Scottish Cup home — for the first time in 27 years — could yet propel them into contention for the Group F Hampden showdown with England on June 10.
‘The best way to get the Scotland manager’s attention is to win the Scottish Cup,’ said Miller.
‘Players like McLean, Shinnie and Jack should be disappointed and hurt that they’re not involved.
‘But my advice to them is to go and win the Scottish Cup in May to put more pressure on Gordon Strachan to pick you.
‘Derek will be disappointed that none of his players have been given the chance with Scotland, given the fact they are sitting clear in second spot in the league.
‘Aberdeen have held that second spot for three years and they have also lifted the League Cup.
‘But it would be a real statement to win the Scottish Cup and Aberdeen players would go into the frame with Gordon.
‘If they can perform at the highest level — and winning the Scottish Cup is that — then they have every right to be given the opportunity with Scotland. ‘If they can lift the Scottish Cup, hopefully that would be enough to get involved in the Scotland squad to face England in June. ‘But I have been in that situation myself with Scotland and the only advice I can give them is to keep on performing.’