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SCOTT BAIN picked the perfect moment to turn in a man-of-the-match display as Gordon Strachan watched him almost single-handedly earn Dundee their first league point of the season on Sunday.
Now, the Dark Blues keeper is determined to ensure he cannot be ignored in future by the Scotland manager as he sets his sights on an international recall.
The 25-year-old was included for the first time in 2015 after a string of impressive displays for Dundee and made it onto the bench for last year’s friendlies against the Czech Republic and Denmark.
He subsequently lost his place in the squad to Hearts’ Jack Hamilton, with Millwall shot-stopper Jordan Archer named as back-up to Craig Gordon and Allan McGregor for Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Lithuania and Monday’s clash with Malta.
However, after pulling off a host of magnificent saves in the 1-1 draw with Hibs on Sunday, the former Alloa Athletic number one is convinced he can force his way back into the reckoning at international level.
“It is hard when you want to be in Scotland squads and you are not,” he admitted. “Personally, I don’t think my performances warranted a call-up.
“So for me it is a case of now playing well so that I can’t be ignored. I would like to be banging on the door again.
“I am still only 25 so there is time for me yet but it is always there in the back of my mind that I want to be involved. I feel I could be there and that I have the ability to be there.
DECISION
“It is a case of playing well enough that they can’t really ignore you.
“The Scotland thing is always something that has been around for me since I have been here. I do want it to come again.”
Strachan watched on at Dens Park as Bain repeatedly denied Hibs but the Dundee keeper insists he was oblivious to the presence of the national team manager.
“Have I heard from Gordon Strachan? No,” he added when asked if he has had any contact since dropping out of the squad. “I don’t think he needs to speak to anyone. He is the Scotland manager so has all the respect of all the players.
“If he wants to put you in he puts you in. It is his decision.
“I didn’t actually know he was at the Hibs match but I would have tried to play well regardless.
“The most important thing for us was to get a point and get off the mark.”
