THE GALLUS WOW BOY
Conway has perfect attitude for Scotland
HE might have grown up in the small Somerset town of Taunton but Scotland’s newest striker Tommy Conway has the gallus attitude you’d find on the streets of Glasgow.
That’s the verdict of his Bristol City team-mate – and fellow Scot – Kal Naismith.
The 21-year-old has been adopted by the Tartan Army after his late-call up for Euro 2024 by gaffer Steve Clarke.
It remains to be seen how big a part Conway will play in the tournament, with Switzerland next up after Friday night’s punishing 5-1 defeat to Germany in Munich.
But Naismith rates the youngster highly as a player and is desperate to see him unleashed at the finals.
He’s convinced the frontman has the kind of bravado that will go down a storm in Clarke’s squad.
The former Rangers and Luton Town defender told MailSport: “Tommy is a confident boy, he’s got that arrogance you need to be a top player. His first
year training with the first team was my first season at Bristol City.
“Right away, I thought: ‘Who is this wee guy?’ It was as if he’d been with us for years.
“He just had that arrogance that said: ‘I’m the best.’
“That’s the way Tommy has been ever since.
“Straight away he was telling senior boys that he wanted to be on penalties and free-kicks.
“He saw himself as the main man. And if you’re going to make it you need that attitude and belief in your own ability.
“He wasn’t born in Scotland but has that gallusness about him. He’s sure of himself and has all the banter.
“He’ll have fitted straight in with the Scottish lads, that’s just the way he is.”
Conway is a regular in Liam Manning’s team at City and scored 12 goals in the Championship last season – including an FA Cup strike against West Ham when his display earned rave reviews.
He’s a pest of a centreforward, never giving defenders a minute’s peace, and he’s also willing to run the channels.
But Naismith insists his biggest qualities are in front of goal – because the Robins ace rarely misses.
That’s why he’s desperate to see him getting thrown in at the Euros, with the Swiss and Hungary still to come.
He said: “As a player, Tommy has loads of potential. But for such a young lad he plays with an experienced head on his shoulders.
“He’s clever in his link-up play but his biggest attribute is his finishing. He’s deadly.
“Left or right foot, he’s explosive. And he’s good in the air too. If he gets a chance in Germany, even just a sniff, I would back him to score.
“Getting thrown off the bench at the Euros won’t faze Tommy. He’ll be nervous – anyone would on that stage – but he will relish it as well.
“He’ ll fancy himself to score in every game because he has that arrogance.”
Conway wasn’t included in Clarke’s original pool for Euro 2024 and instead went to play for the Under-21s in a friendly double-header.
Before that, Naismith joined him on a post-season trip to Portugal – but revealed he could barely get Conway off the training pitch as he prayed for a call from the manager.
Even when it didn’t come at first, Naismith told him to keep the faith – and Conway’s patience paid off.
The Bristol City centre-back said: “I went for dinner with Tommy in Portugal when he was on standby for Scotland.
“But all he did was work. He eats and sleeps football. He was at the campus training every day because he still had hopes of making the squad.
He’s explosive .. if Tommy gets a chance in Germany, even a sniff, I’d back him to score
U21’S PAL KAI NAISMITH SAYS CONWAY CAN MAKE DEADLY
IMPACT FOR SCOTLAND
“He was gutted he didn’t make the original squad.
“But I told him: ‘ You never know, anything can happen.’
“Fast forward a week and he’d got the call. I was buzzing for him and really proud.”