St Johnstone's Davidson hungry for Scotland cap

Mar 29 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

Saint hungry for Scotland cap

MURRAY Davidson was bracing himself for flak when he turned up for training yesterday wearing his Scotland tracksuit.

He took a ribbing, with wind-up merchant Michael Duberry quick to note the young midfielder hadn’t played against Brazil in the 2-0 Sunday defeat at the Emirates.

But Davidson is now hoping it will be a case of third time lucky if he makes the national squad for Carling Cup games with Wales and the Republic of Ireland at the end of May.

He said: “I was expecting stick for the tracksuit but we flew up late on Sunday night and I stayed in a hotel and came straight to training. Dubes didn’t miss me!

“It has been pretty hectic since the squad was announced. But I had two games for St Johnstone that I had to concentrate on before joining the boys at the training camp in La Manga. Brazil had to go to the back of my mind.

“After the Faroes, it was another game I didn’t play in but it was another massive learning curve just being involved with the national squad. It was a great experience and one I hope to repeat.”

Davidson would love to round-off a memorable season with a Scottish Cup final date and that elusive first Scotland cap.

He said: “All this has got to drive me on. I might not have been capped but I was training in La Manga and in one of the best stadiums in the world.

“I am young and it is all about learning. It has made me even hungrier. I think that was why I was listed in the squad.

“Hopefully I can keep improving and that Scotland cap will come for me.

“The next internationals are a double header in Dublin after the cup final. If we could reach the final and come up with a positive result, and I could meet up with the Scotland again, that would be ideal.

“A few people were saying this wasn’t a vintage Brazil side but they played some terrific football.”