WITH Gordon Strachan set to cut his Scotland squad from 29 players to 23 following the William Hill Scottish Cup final, there is every chance that Mark Reynolds could find himself dropped as quickly as he was called up.
But having taken two years to force his way back into the national set-up, Reynolds is determined to remain involved.
The centre half believes helping Aberdeen to defeat Celtic at Hampden on Saturday will increase his chances of retaining his place in the pool - and possibly even of featuring in the Russia 2018 qualifier against England next month.
“It’s always fantastic to get any kind of recognition,” he said. “Just to be in the manager’s thoughts is great.
“I was last involved a couple of years ago, before I did my shoulder. I was a wee bit worried I’d fallen off the radar. But Gordon Greer didn’t start playing until he was in the twilight of his career. I’m only 30. Defenders are supposed to reach their peak at this age.
“The Scotland squad is still to be cut and there’s nine of us playing so potentially there are still places up for grabs. You just need to put in a great performance. If we were to win the cup it would certainly add to my case for inclusion and Kenny McLean’s as well.”
Reynolds has been involved extensively with Scotland in the past without ever having made an appearance – something which hasn’t gone unnoticed by his Aberdeen team mates and is the source of much good-natured ribbing in the Pittodrie dressing room.
The former Motherwell and Sheffield Wednesday player would love to get a run-out in the Group F match against Gareth Southgate’s star-studded side on June 10 to end the wind-ups.
“Even just 30 seconds I’d be happy with,” he said. “It’s the elusive cap, my first one, and it would be great. I’ve been away a lot and been involved and feel comfortable when I’ve been training so it would be great to get on the park and get that cap.
“Getting my first cap would definitely silence the lads. I think I would wear it in! They’ve given me loads of stick. It’s like water off a duck’s back. It needs to be because if we didn’t we’d have a sports psychologist on permanent call at the club.
“You want to challenge yourself against the best and in the big occasions. A qualifier against England at Hampden? They don’t get much bigger than that. It would be fabulous to be involved.
“I’ve changed my holiday plans. I was due to go away to Tenerife. It’s just one of these things. It’s happened before and it’ll happen again. Playing England at Hampden is some-thing you’d cancel your holiday for.”
Reynolds, though, is concentrating on the immediate task in hand. Aberdeen have lost five times against Celtic this season – including by a 3-0 scoreline in the Betfred Cup final back in November – but the defender is confident they can halt that disappointing run this weekend.
“I think the last game out there summed up ourselves and Celtic,” he said. “If you aren’t right on it and completely focused, they can do to you what they did to us in the first 10 minutes (they raced into a 3-0 lead).
“But in the rest of the game we have as good as we got and asked a few questions. We showed them we’ve got something that on our day, if we are right, we can pose more questions.
“We feel as though we’ve got boys in the team who can go and win us games and others who can stop their players. If we do that and all do our job right and stand up and be counted we’ve got as good a chance as anybody.”
He added: “I love Hampden. I was kind of brought up around it as my dad used to coach at Queen’s Park so I was always in and about it.
“I was there at the old Hampden and then when it was being redeveloped. I was there for the new Hampden and have obviously have trained there with Scotland squads so it feels familiar and comfortable.
“I think that’s a good feeling to have. When you are comfortable in your surroundings it brings out the best in you. It’s just how the story goes isn’t it? You want to go to Hampden and lift the cup. That’s what everyone dreams of isn’t it and now we’re only 90 minutes away from doing that.”
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