Scotland No 1 just happy to keep on playing after show of staying power

DAVID MARSHALL is not convinced his longevity is worth lauding when he considers the many frustrating periods in exile from the national team.

However, staying power counts for everything in one Scotland statistic that may mean more to Marshall if he holds on to the No1 job in the months to come.

The Wigan goalkeeper moves above the great Kenny Dalglish in the all-time list of Scotland internationalists with the longest career span this month.

Marshall, who earned his 30th cap against Russia 15 years and one month after debuting for Berti Vogts against Hungary, will move to fourth behind Denis Law, Jim Leighton and Ned Doig. Goalkeeper Doig, who played from 1887 to 1903, is first at over 16 years and seven months.

Back as first choice under Steve Clarke, Marshall can realistically aim to break that record if staying fit and in form. He turns 35 next March ahead of the Nations League play-offs.

Marshall grinned: ‘It feels like a long time! In terms of turning up? I don’t think it’s much of an accolade. I started really young, 18 or 19.

‘The first few years with Scotland were difficult as Craig Gordon was flying at the time, so I didn’t really play. Five games in almost 10 years at one stage!

‘So when I was younger, trailing around Europe without playing, I didn’t enjoy at all. But that was probably being young.

‘If that happened to me now, which it has, it’s a lot easier. Because you’re thinking of the team. When you’re 20, 21 you just want to play.

‘Myself, Craig Gordon and Allan McGregor chopped and changed for a long time. But you just need to keep going, working hard and hoping the games come.’

Following his famous Barcelona breakthrough for Celtic in the spring of 2004, Marshall played two friendlies later that year as a 19-year-old.

He didn’t make a senior Scotland appearance for five years, playing three times and losing three times for George Burley.

Then, another three-and-a-half years later, against Serbia, Marshall was handed the first of the 22 caps he earned between March 2013 and October 2016 under Gordon Strachan.

Being dropped by Hull, then missing the entire Alex McLeish reign, left Marshall once more looking in from the outside for a prolonged spell until a recall in June. ‘You do miss it when it’s taken away from you and appreciate it all the more,’ admits Marshall.

‘I never thought I wouldn’t get back in because I thought if I could play at my club, I could get back to a high level. I had been in contact with Stevie Woods as well.

‘So, for me, it was just a case of getting playing and then getting my confidence and form at club level. I loved getting the two games in the summer, so hopefully it continues.

‘I’m still enjoying playing as much as I always have.’

Playing was the key issue for Marshall when faced with a career crossroads during the summer. His freedom of contract status at Hull City made him an attractive prospect on the open market and contributed to an intriguing link with Liverpool when the European champions were on the lookout for back-up to star man Alisson.

However, Simon Mignolet’s proposed exit from Anfield did not transpire until early August when he moved to Club Brugge, by which time Wigan had made a decisive move for Marshall by the first week in July, Paul Cook’s side granting him a No1 job.

When asked if Liverpool was a genuine option for him, Marshall explained: ‘Not eventually. There were a couple of conversations and it was dependent on people moving.

‘Mignolet left in August but August was late for me. It never really got to a stage where I had to decide.

‘It could have come to that maybe a few weeks later, but I got a couple of games in the summer with Scotland — and then I got the chance to just go and play.

‘I had missed a season (2017/18) with Hull then got back playing last season and did reasonably well. So I was just desperate to play.’