Scotland rookie Findlay Curtis admits he was ‘bursting with pride’ after being handed a shock first call-up to the national team – with his mum even being reduced to tears.
The 19-year-old winger, who is on loan at Kilmarnock from parent club Rangers, was named in Steve Clarke’s squad on Monday for the upcoming friendlies against Japan and the Ivory Coast.
Curtis has been in impressive form for his new club since making the loan switch from Ibrox at the end of the January transfer window.
Speaking to Killie’s in-house media channel, he said: ‘It’s unbelievable, I didn’t expect it at such a young age but it’s a dream come true and I just can’t wait to get going.
‘I got a call yesterday from the gaffer here [Neil McCann] and he said you’re in the consideration set-up.
‘I’m thinking to myself: “This is mental”. Then he phoned me and said I’m in the full squad.
‘I was bursting with pride and told my mum and dad. My mum started crying. It’s huge.’
Findlay Curtis (right) celebrates with Tyreece John-Jules after his goal for Kilmarnock
In the absence of the injured Ben Gannon-Doak, Clarke is looking for options in the wide areas – and the Scotland boss believes Curtis could make a similar impact.
The young Killie winger, who broke into the Rangers team in the first half of the season, was the only uncapped player named in Clarke’s squad.
Scotland will take on Japan at Hampden on Saturday, March 28, before facing the Ivory Coast at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium three days later.
‘Findlay came into the Rangers team, I liked him,’ said Clarke. ‘I thought he was quite direct, tries to make things happen.
‘I went to watch him live at the weekend [against Hearts], I thought he was decent. He’s quick, direct, asks defenders to defend, so it’s something a little bit different.
‘Obviously Ben Gannon-Doak had a big, big impact on the squad, and certainly the media and the Scottish public, because he’s something a little bit different.
‘Findlay can hopefully give us something similar. He’s not exactly the same type of player as Ben, but something similar.’
There were no other major surprises in Clarke’s squad. Grant Hanley is in despite not playing for six weeks through injury.
At right-back, Anthony Ralston and Nathan Patterson are both included despite a lack of game time. Ross McCrorie is playing regularly for Bristol City.
Middlesbrough striker Tommy Conway is recalled, with Gannon-Doak still recovering from a five-month lay-off due to a hamstring injury.
Injury has also seen Aaron Hickey, Craig Gordon and Lawrence Shankland drop out while Josh Doig is absent.
‘Obviously a squad where you’re preparing for a World Cup in the summer is a little bit different,’ said Clarke.
‘Some injuries, some boys right on the cusp of coming back from injury, whether to pick them, whether not to pick them. Some players who I feel I need to have a look at.
‘There’s a few players that could have been in the squad, are not in the squad, but I know what they can do.
‘I’ve got other players that are in the squad that I’m maybe not convinced yet about what they can and can’t do, so let’s have a look and see what happens.
‘There’s always room for someone else. There’s always room for an outsider.
‘Off the top of my head, there’s probably four players that would have been in this squad if they hadn’t been injured.’
Falkirk’s Scott Bain is the only goalkeeper playing regularly, with Angus Gunn and Liam Kelly only managing four club games between them this season.
‘It’s something I’ll have a chat with Chris Woods about, my goalkeeping coach,’ added Clarke.
‘I’ll have a chat with the goalies that are in the squad and then I’ll decide.’
There are no Hearts or Motherwell players included despite their impressive seasons with the likes of Craig Halkett, Harry Milne, Elliott Watt and Stephen Welsh missing out.
‘Both those teams have been exceptional this year,’ said Clarke. ‘But maybe the team is better than the sum of the parts, which is a credit to the coaching staff and the managers.’
