BATES IN SCOTLAND PLEA

HAMBURG defender David Bates last night told Alex McLeish he’s ready to plug the holes in the Scotland defence. The national team boss will name his squad for the forthcoming Nations League double header with Albania and Israel early next week. And McLeish faces a defensive headache after Hearts centre-half John Souttar was ruled out for five

months, while Jack Hendry lost his place in Celtic’s starting XI. Now former Rangers defender Bates hopes to earn his first call-up to the senior squad after helping former European champions Hamburg to eight clean sheets in his first ten games in Bundesliga 2. ‘Playing for the Scotland national team is a huge goal in my career,’ he told Sportsmail in an exclusive interview. ‘Everyone wants to play for their national team and I’m no exception. But it’s not up to me. ‘In my last year at Rangers, people were speaking about me getting a call-up. This year, there hasn’t been so much conversation about it. ‘I’m playing for a big European club at the highest competitive level I have performed at. ‘I am confident in my ability and feel the move to Germany has improved me technically. My all-round game is better. ‘I feel I could do a job for the national team if called upon.’ Bates sealed a shock Bosman move to Hamburg after head of scouting Johannes Spors spotted him on a spying trip to watch Moussa Dembele play for Celtic last December. Dismissing claims Bundesliga 2 was a step down from playing for Rangers, Bates is holding his own in a youthful defence full of internationals. ‘My central defensive partner is a Dutch Under-21 international Rick van Drongelen,’ he said. ‘The leftback, Douglas Santos, won a gold medal playing at the Olympics for Brazil alongside Neymar.’

Sportsmail understands no one from the Scotland management has travelled to Germany to watch Bates in action for Hamburg yet. The Under-21 international insisted: ‘I am playing with international players and feel comfortable at that level.’