Zagreb’s Maksimir Stadium would be as appropriate a venue as any for Liam Lindsay to make his Scotland debut on Saturday.
If Steve Clarke selects him to play against Croatia in the latest installment of the Nations League, it would also serve as the setting for a school reunion.
A dozen years since the now Preston North End centre-half left with Andy Robertson to represent St Ninian’s High School in Giffnock, there is every chance that the paths of their respective journeys in this intriguing old game will finally cross again .
“Andy is a year older than me,” Lindsay explained. ‘So, we didn’t really cross paths until maybe fifth or sixth year. We were on the same senior team.
“I think he actually played as the number 10. I think he was the number 10 or the forward of the school team.
Preston defender Liam Lindsay has been called up to the Scotland squad
Liam Lindsay (centre back) and Andy Robertson (centre forward) played on the same school team
—I didn’t play defense with him back then, but he obviously gave it a little kick, right? I haven’t really kept in touch or anything. So it will be good to see.
You could say, somewhat understatedly, that Robertson’s progression from that point to this is impressive. It culminated in him winning the English Premier League and the Champions League during seven years with Liverpool. The pattern of
The Scottish team that ended a generation of failures by qualifying for the Euros in 2020, put on the armband again and did it all again to take the team to Euro 2024.
In Croatia, the winger could win his 77th cap, tying him with Alex McLeish and Paul McStay for fourth on the all-time list. Not bad for a player who was sacked by Celtic and started again at Queen’s Park.
Lindsay, on the other hand, has spent his professional years on the sidelines, peering through the glass at international football.
After starting out at Partick Thistle, he earned a move to Barnsley, where he experienced the starkly contrasting emotions of relegation and promotion in successive years.
He spent two years at Stoke City before moving to Deepdale in 2021. Although his case for recognition by Scotland is often compelling, the phone never rang.
“I think over the last few years I’ve always been mentioned, whether it’s in the media or whatever,” he said.
‘I have never lost faith. I just had to keep doing what I was doing for my club.
“I’ve been playing consistently and well for the last two years.
“I was just trying to get my best shot at making the team and luckily it’s come.”
Steve Clarke has called up his squad for the Nations League matches against Croatia and Portugal
West Ham midfielder Andy Irving has also been called up for the first time
While Andy Irving’s first call-up demonstrates Clarke’s willingness to infuse the game with younger talent, the inclusion of 28-year-old Lindsay and 30-year-old Nicky Devlin shows the manager is also willing to rely on men in good standing. form at club level.
Lindsay certainly believes his first foray into this environment comes as he is playing the best football of his career.
“Yes, I think so,” he said. “I moved here when I was, I think, 20, 21. I had a few good seasons for Barnsley. We got relegated, sure, but we got promoted again and then I moved to Stoke. Stoke was a bit of a difficult time in my career. I didn’t play so much and then I moved to Preston.
‘I didn’t start straight away, but after a year I started playing consistently.
“In recent years I feel that I have a lot of confidence from the coach and the players.
‘I feel like I’m at my best now. “I have played the best football of my career.”
He credits former Hibs boss Paul Heckingbottom, now in charge of Preston, for trusting him.
Former Scottish midfielder Stuart McCall, the club’s assistant manager, is delighted to see Lindsay finally recognized at the top level.
‘Yes, he is (excited for me)’
—Lindsay added. ‘He’s a character. “I don’t know if he will come to both games, but he will definitely be at Hampden (for Portugal), I’m sure.”
Lindsay is no stranger to playing in these types of scenarios. In 2017, when Heckingbottom first had him at Barnsley, he played against Spurs at Wembley in a Carabao Cup fourth-round tie as the Premier League club awaited the construction of their new stadium.
Since Son Heung-min was asked to score that day, a one-goal loss was not a disaster.
“That was a while ago, but it was good,” Lindsay recalled. “You’re obviously playing against top-level people, so it was great.” You can see the difference in levels, but we actually did well.
“It was fantastic to play at Wembley. I think I got the Dele Alli shirt. That was good.
“That was my first encounter with a truly top-level team. “You want to compete against the best and, yeah, that game is up there.”
He regrets the fact that Jack Hendry, his former defensive partner at Partick, will not be present this week after being injured playing for Saudi club Al-Ettifaq, but believes he will not be short of inspiration.
“Obviously, when I get my foot in the door on Monday, I’ll lean on guys like Grant (Hanley), Ryan (Porteous) and the guys that are there because they obviously have international experience.
“I played with Angus Gunn when I was at Stoke and obviously came across other lads who play in the Championship.
“Even in Scotland, I played against (Lawrence) Shankland when I was young.”
You won’t be short of free advice. Lindsay’s father James featured for Celtic as a goalkeeper and his uncle is former St Mirren midfielder Ricky Gillies.
Lindsay will look to learn from Grant Hanley when he joins the Scotland squad.
“I went to some of Ricky’s games at St Mirren,” he explained. ‘I was just young. I was a ball boy a couple of times.
“I think all young people want to be a footballer, don’t they? I saw the funny things about it. He made me want to be a footballer.”
Well aware that the absences of Hendry, Scott McKenna, Liam Cooper and Kieran Tierney have shaken up Clarke’s backline, Lindsay – who has never played at underage level for his country – intends to savor every moment.
Citing examples of others who have taken their opportunity in similar circumstances, the intention is to ensure that your first call is not your last.
“There are guys who are hurt right now,” he added. “Obviously there’s (the example of) Scott McKenna, Jack obviously came in and did very well.
“Everyone has taken their opportunity, really, and that’s what I’m looking to do. Especially being a center back, I think you reach your peak a little later.
‘Now I have a lot of experience at the national level and I will try to take advantage of it. I’m just grateful and honored that it came.
“If I can put that shirt on, I’ll try to take it easy and enjoy it.”