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International Week Preview

12 November 2018
Author AFC Media Team

 

Scotland Senior Team

It seems hardly any time has past since the last international break, yet another beckons with the focus being on Scotland’s quest to qualify for Euro 2020. Once again there is a strong Aberdeen contingent with Scott McKenna, Michael Devlin, Gary Mackay-Steven and Graeme Shinnie included in Alex McLeish’s 23 man squad for the final round of fixtures in the inaugural UEFA Nations League.

The competition offers nations an alternative route to qualification and one that Scotland will be taking seriously having missed out on a major tournament for the last 20 years. Their task is overcoming Albania and Israel and if successful would see Scotland top the group of three and reaching the play-offs and on the brink of qualification.

From an Aberdeen point of view the inclusion of four represents how strong the team have been in recent times, with The Dons hitting form at the right time as they gear up for the Betfred Cup Final in the coming weeks.

For Scott McKenna a seventh cap for his country beckons and he could line up alongside his teammate, Michael Devlin after a strong showing for The Dons in the opening part of the season. Devlin was a late call up for the Portugal friendly last month and despite not featuring, the centre half has maintained his consistent performances for his club and earned a recall for the double-header. With Scotland facing a number of call offs there’s every chance it will be a Devlin/McKenna partnership as the team line up in Albania. Like Scott, Michael’s run has been remarkable given he lined up against Burnley in July having not played competitive football in over a year. The former Hamilton Accies captain signed for The Dons in January and worked on his rehabilitation with the physios at Pittodrie before beginning training with his teammates towards the end of the campaign. Now he will be hoping to impress former Aberdeen captain McLeish in training this week with the hope of achieving a first Scotland cap at any level.

The current Aberdeen captain, Graeme Shinnie has been involved in the last three squads having made his debut against Peru in the summer. Despite a number of call offs for the matches, Shinnie has always remained committed to the national team and even missed his “stag do” as he and his teammates departed for the two friendlies against Mexico and Peru. Graeme made his debut as a second half substitute against Belgium in September and played in the last outing against Portugal last month.

Gary Mackay-Steven’s excellent form for his club earned a recall to the national side for the first time in five years when he joined Devlin as late stand ins for the Portugal friendly. Despite falling to defeat to the European champions, GMS played his part in assisting a consolation for Scotland with a lovely backheel to find Steven Naismith in injury time. The winger tops Aberdeen’s goalscoring charts this season with six and comes into the games after scoring a fantastic winner against Hibernian last Friday night as The Dons made it four wins in a row. Another who has found a resurgence in the last year at Pittodrie, Gary moved to Pittodrie to regain his form and this season in particular has been one of Aberdeen’s top performers.

Northern Ireland

As is usually custom, Niall McGinn received a call up to the Norther Ireland squad for their upcoming matches. Niall was forced to withdraw from the last meet up due to injury, but the experienced winger is back to help his country in a double header against rivals the Republic of Ireland in a friendly before hosting Austria in their final Nations League match. With Michael O’Neill’s team on zero points from three matches, relegation to group C is likely but they will want to build some momentum ahead of the Euro Championship qualifiers.

Scotland U20s

This week the Scotland U20s are also in action as they travel to Spain for a friendly against Turkey as Scot Gemmill looks to the next crop of players following the U21s narrowly missing out on qualification for the European Championships. Three Dons players are included as Bruce Anderson, Connor McLennan make their most senior squad to date and Lewis Ferguson is recalled having played his part for the U21s in recent months. Lewis has been receiving a number of plaudits for his performances in the middle of the Aberdeen midfield this season, including from his manager Derek McInnes and the former Hamilton Accies man scored the winner in the recent Betfred Cup Semi-Final against Rangers at Hampden.

He is joined by fellow Pittodrie youngsters, Bruce and Connor, who have both made their mark on the first team this season come into the side for the first time. Anderson grabbed the headlines on the opening day of the season with a late equaliser against Rangers at Pittodrie and last week scored his second goal for the club as they mounted a fantastic comeback at Rugby Park.

Connor was given his first start against St Mirren and he more than took the opportunity as he curled home from distance to grab his first goal for the club in an empathic 4-1 win. The duo have continued to be ever-present in Paul Sheerin’s Reserve squad this season with appearances off the bench for the first team.

Scotland U19s

Making up the strong numbers from Aberdeen is Dean Campbell, Seb Ross and Archie Mair in the U19s side. Just like the senior squad, the U19s face three massive games in seven days in their bid to reach the European Championships. The three matches pits Billy Stark’s team against Wales, San Marino and Sweden with the matches taking place in Ryhl, Wales.

All three have been mainstay’s for the Reserves this season with Dean featuring for the first team and Seb tasting senior football at Stenhousemuir. Goalkeeper Mair is the first choice for the Dons U18’s and is an experienced figure for national teams having featured against France last month for the Scotland U18’s.

Good luck to all our players and their squads for the upcoming internationals.

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