If the pride of wearing the national shirt translated into goals, Tommy Conway would contribute a huge load for Scotland.
He may have grown up in and around Bristol (his accent proves it), but his family roots mean a lot when it comes to football.
“I know my grandfather will look down and be proud. I had my family at Hampden too, so overall it’s a really proud day,” Conway said after making his international debut against Finland in June.
“Playing on the international stage for your country is the pinnacle.”
It was a match in which he almost instantly gained hero status. He could (maybe should) have scored a dramatic, late goal. However, his header was saved by a superb reflex save from Viljami Sinisalo, who is now Kasper Schmeichel’s understudy at Celtic.
“I thought it was going to be for a split second. Obviously I hit the goalkeeper. Scott McTominay asked me why I hadn’t scored. I told him I was saving it for next time.”
Scottish fans will hope the 22-year-old is as adept in front of goal in dark blue as he is with one-liners.
Aston Villa’s McTominay and John McGinn have found the net regularly for Scotland of late. They have had to do it.
Getting a goalscorer has been a problem for several Scottish coaches. So could Conway be the answer?
Although Steve Clarke did not play with him at Euro 2024, the Scotland head coach brought the Taunton-born forward out of under-21 level and appears to value him.
“Tommy has been good to the group,” Clarke said. “I know him pretty well. He’s someone I’ve been watching. He’s slightly different to the type of striker we have and he’ll try to get a little bit more behind the backs of defenders.”
And what made Clarke promoted from within and Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough offer him a four-year contract when his contract with Bristol City expired last summer?
The obvious answer is goals. Five in 12 appearances for Boro since his move to the Riverside and 25 in 92 appearances for Bristol City, whose academy he joined when he was seven.
