THREE Rangers players have been called up to the Scotland squad for their Nations League matches with Israel and the Czech Republic taking place over the first weekend in September.
Goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin, midfielder Ryan Jack, and for the first time, goalkeeper Robby McCrorie have all been added to Steve Clarke’s pool as the Dark Blues get set to play their first matches since last November.
McLaughlin and Jack have both made fine starts to their seasons at Ibrox and McCrorie, meanwhile, has represented his nation at every youth age group, with this opportunity to fight for a place in the A squad first XI for the first time coming after impressing last season on-loan at Queen of the South and then Livingston, with the 22 year-old since having agreed a further loan spell with the Premiership outfit.
He dug himself out from under a pile of good wishes this afternoon to speak to rangers.co.uk, and began by explaining: "It's a special moment for myself and my family.
"I have been very fortunate coming through the age groups - under-15s right up to have been involved, and to get my first call-up for the A squad is another step in hopefully the right direction.
"It is an amazing feeling and I just want to make the most of it."
Prior to his Livingston switch, McCrorie told RangersTV in pre-season about his international ambitions, and the hope that by playing top-flight football again in this campaign, he could fight his way into Clarke’s plans.
He admits though, the timing of this call has caught him by surprise, continuing: "If I'm being honest, I'm not sure about this early!
"First and foremost, the opportunity to play games which Livingston have given me and Rangers have given me by allowing me to go out on loan has given me the opportunity for something like this to happen.
"If I wasn't playing week-in, week-out, I think it would have been very hard for me to get this call-up.
"It was an ambition of mine at some point this season and I am over the moon that it has happened now."
McCrorie’s experience at youth international level through the years has stood him in good stead as he has entered his professional career, and he said: "I've always loved playing against some of the best young players in Europe and the World.
"Going to the championships and the qualifiers, I have found it a good test as I like to size myself up against the opposition and push myself to try to be the best I can be.
"To get that challenge in the long-run has been beneficial. I have played through the youth age groups and this will help my progression still being a young goalkeeper."
Scotland’s Nations League matches will be followed by a Euro 2020 play-off with Israel in October, with victory there propelling the Scots into a final showdown with either Norway or Serbia to reach next summer’s rescheduled final tournament.
The possibility, although with plenty of football still to be played, of McCrorie being involved in a squad which goes to a finals is very much there now, and he added:
"It would be incredible. But while this is a special thing to happen for me, I try not to get too caught-up as I feel there is so much at stake in football.
"You can't get too high with the highs, you just need to try and stay level-headed.
"But if I could be a part of something like that... very few people are fortunate enough to say they could be included in a squad for a championship, so that would be a great thing to happen."