Modest Mikey has all the makings of a Scotland defender, maintains Canning
MARTIN CANNING is loath to tout Mikey Devlin as a future Scotland player but worries that if he does not speak up, the defender may never emerge on the international radar.
Brave and aggressive on the park, Devlin is unassuming off it and that reserved personality, coupled with his status at an unfashionable club like Hamilton Accies, does not make him an obvious candidate for national honours.
Yet Scotland’s need for fresh defensive blood is chronic and, at 23, Devlin has already proved his leadership credentials by making more than 150 first-team appearances and assuming the club captaincy last summer.
After watching Devlin strike the winning goal and then marshal some brilliant siege-like defending to secure a clean sheet and victory over in-form Aberdeen in midweek, his manager could barely contain his enthusiasm.
‘Mikey’s such a nice, humble, quiet guy that he’s not the type to go looking for attention or credit,’ said Canning. ‘He just gets on with his job.
‘Sometimes it takes performances in the big games to get the credit you’re due. You can fly under the radar if you’re a nice guy.
‘If I didn’t think highly of him, then I wouldn’t have made him my captain at just 22. I know he’s got the potential to be a top centre-back. It’s good to see him get a bit of recognition.’
Gordon Strachan has largely trusted a central pairing of Russell Martin and Grant Hanley during his time as national coach, but the former was dropped for the last World Cup qualifier against England, while the latter has been an unused sub at Newcastle for the last month.
With back-up options scarce, Canning feels his man — who was given a torrid time along with his fellow Accies defenders in the Scottish Cup thrashing at Ibrox yesterday — is worth a look as Strachan mulls over his selections for the World Cup qualifying visit of Slovenia and preceding friendly against Canada later this month.
Canning continued: ‘We’ve joked about it within the club, that there will be a guy playing in the reserves at Tottenham or Bournemouth that would get a mention to play at centre-back before someone like Mikey.
‘No one mentions his name. I wouldn’t want to put that pressure on him because he’s still got a long way to go, but hopefully it will come for him.
‘He should have that ambition. He’s 23 years old now and he’s captain of a Premiership team.’