Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb would be a suitable place for Liam Lindsay to make his Scotland debut on Saturday.
If Steve Clarke is selected to play Croatia in the latest installment of the Nations League, it would also set the stage for a school reunion.
A dozen years since the now Preston North End centre-back stepped out 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 fifth, sixth year. We were on the same senior team.
“I think he actually played number 10. I think it was number 10 or striker of the school team.
Preston defender Liam Lindsay has been called up to the Scotland squad
Liam Lindsay (centre back) and Andy Robertson (centre front) played in the same school team
“I wasn’t playing defense with him then, but he obviously got hit, right? I haven’t really kept in touch or anything. So it will be good to see him.”
Robertson’s progress from that point to this point can be considered impressive with some understatement. It culminated in winning the English Premier League and Champions League for seven years with Liverpool. The skipper of the
The Scotland side that ended a generation of failure by qualifying for the 2020 European Championship, put the armband back on and did it all again to lead the side to the 2024 European Championship.
In Croatia, the full-back could win his 77th cap, moving him level with Alex McLeish and Paul McStay for fourth on the all-time list. Not bad for a player who was released by Celtic and started again at Queen’s Park.
Lindsay, on the other hand, spent his professional years outside watching international football through the glass.
After joining Partick Thistle, he earned a move to Barnsley, where he experienced the sharply contrasting emotions of relegation and promotion in successive years.
There were two years at Stoke City before moving to Deepdale in 2021. Although his plea for recognition by Scotland was often persuasive, the phone never rang.
“I think I’ve always been mentioned over the years, whether it’s in the media or whatever,” he said.
‘I never lost confidence. I just had to continue with what I was doing for my club.
‘I have played consistently and well over the past two years.
“I was just trying to get my best chance to get into the squad and luckily that’s what happened.”
Steve Clarke has named his squad due to Nations League ties with Croatia and Portugal
West Ham midfielder Andy Irving has also been called up for the first time
While Andy Irving’s first call-up shows Clarke’s willingness to supply the side with younger talents, the inclusion of Lindsay (28) and Nicky Devlin (30) shows the manager is also willing to trust in-form men at club level.
Lindsay certainly believes his first venture into this environment will come while he is playing the best football of his career.
“Yes, I think so,” he said. ‘I moved here when I was 20 or 21, I think. I’ve had a few good seasons for Barnsley. We got relegated, mind you, but we went straight back up and then I moved to Stoke. Stoke was a bit of a tough time in my career. I didn’t play that much and then moved to Preston.
‘I didn’t get started straight away, but after a year I started playing consistently.
‘Over the last few years I feel like I have a lot of trust from the manager and the players.
‘I feel like I’m at my peak now. I’m playing the best football of my career.’
He credits former Hibs boss Paul Heckingbottom, who is now in charge of Preston, for putting his faith in him.
Former Scotland midfielder Stuart McCall, the club’s assistant manager, is pleased that Lindsay is finally being recognized at the highest level.
‘Yes, he is (excited for me)’
Lindsay added. ‘He’s a character. “I don’t know if he’ll come to both games, but he’ll definitely go to Hampden (for Portugal), I’m sure.”
Lindsay is no stranger to playing in such arenas. In 2017, when Heckingbottom first had him at Barnsley, he played against Spurs at Wembley in a Carabao Cup fourth round match as the Premier League club waited for their new stadium to be built.
Since he was asked to mark Son Heung-min that day, a one-goal loss was not a disaster.
“That was a while ago, but it was good,” Lindsay remembers. “You’re obviously playing against top people, so that was great. You can see the difference in level, but we actually did well.
‘It was great to play at Wembley. I think I have Dele Alli’s jersey. That was good.
‘That was my first experience with a real top team game. You want to compete against the best and yes, that game fits in perfectly with that.’
He regrets that Jack Hendry, his former Partick defensive partner, will not be there this week after suffering an injury playing for Saudi club Al-Ettifaq, but believes he will have no shortage of inspiration.
“If I get my foot in the door on Monday I will obviously lean on the likes of Grant (Hanley), Ryan (Porteous) and the guys who are in because they obviously have international experience.
‘I played with Angus Gunn when he was at Stoke and I’ve obviously come across other lads playing in the Championship.
“Even in Scotland I played against (Lawrence) Shankland when I was young.”
He will not lack free advice. Lindsay’s father James was on Celtic’s books as a goalkeeper and his uncle is former St Mirren midfielder Ricky Gillies.
Lindsay will look to learn from Grant Hanley as he joins the Scotland squad
“I went to a few of Ricky’s games at St Mirren,” he explained. ‘I was only young. I’ve been a ball boy a few times.
“I think every young boy wants to be a footballer, right? I saw the nice things about it. He made me want to be a footballer.’
Lindsay, who is well aware that the absences of Hendry, Scott McKenna, Liam Cooper and Kieran Tierney have disrupted Clarke’s backline, plans to enjoy every moment.
By citing examples of others who have seized their opportunity under similar circumstances, the aim is to ensure that his first call is not his last.
“There are guys that are hurt right now,” he added. “There’s obviously (the example of) Scott McKenna, Jack obviously came in and did really well.
“Everyone took their chance, and that’s what I want to do. Especially as a central defender, I think you reach your peak a little later.
‘I now have a lot of experience in my own country and I will try to lean on that. I’m just grateful and honored that it has happened.
“If I get to put on that jersey, I’ll just try to deal with it and enjoy it.”