The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Dramatic start to life in dark blue for Fraser
Ryan Fraser is a mere babe in terms of international football, writes Eric Nicolson.
But it doesn’t take a seasoned veteran to appreciate that appearance No 1 of the Bournemouth winger’s Scotland career – hopefully a long one – may well turn out to be the most dramatic.
In the space of three Hampden Park minutes the second half substitute experienced emotions, at both ends of the spectrum, that were new to him.
“It wasn’t a bad one to get my debut out of the way,” said the former Aberdeen man.
“When you go 1-0 down, it’s easy for us to go wide open and maybe get hit 2-0.
“We’ve done well, Leigh (Griffiths) got the free-kick and scored it, and I think that just gave us a little bit of life to keep going.
“To then go 2-1 up was probably one of the best moments I’ve felt in my life.
“Then two minutes later we go and concede and it’s one of the worst moments of my life.
“That’s highs and lows in football for you.
“It was a good result but at the same time it was a little bit disappointing to concede at the end.
“We have to take the positives and go on to the next matches.”
You don’t move from Aberdeen at a young age to the south coast of England and a club a long way from the top flight if you lack self-belief.
And Fraser is seeing that self-belief pay-off after establishing himself as an English Premier League regular and now a Scotland player.
He said: “For me it’s now about going back and working hard for Bournemouth and maybe staying in the team. If I’m playing there I can come back with confidence and hopefully start from the start.
“If the manager (Gordon Strachan) gives me that chance I will hopefully take it.
“I’m still young but, without sounding cocky, I believe in my ability. The next time I come here I will try and show him I need to start.
“Bournemouth are going to sign players in the summer. I’ve just got to keep my head down, work hard and see where it takes me.”
There was a bit of symmetry about the start of Fraser’s club career and his international one.
He explained: “Mark McGhee gave me my debut at Aberdeen, so it’s two debuts he’s been involved in for me now.
“I mentioned that after the game and he was buzzing off that.
“It’s obviously a high for me, but I don’t want this to be the highest high of my career. I want to do it for Bournemouth and progress, and qualify with Scotland. That would be the high.”
Fraser has been impressed with the players he has mixed with in the Scotland set-up, none more so than two-goal Leigh Griffiths.
He said: “I think he’s a very good striker. He’s scoring goals for his club. Obviously Dembele played a little bit as well and had a couple of injuries.
“I think next season is a big season for him if Dembele goes, or if he can get in front. He’s up there with the best I’ve played with, definitely.
“He’s got a wand of a left foot to be fair to him.
“When you see him in training in the shooting, he does things with the ball I’ve never seen done before.
“When he stepped up to take the free-kick there were no doubts he would hit the target, although you never know if you’re going to score.”