Ross Doohan admits Scotland debut will take time to sink in

Ross Doohan admits it might take weeks to absorb the fact he has made his Scotland debut after answering Steve Clarke’s goalkeeping emergency.

The 27-year-old was called up after injuries to Angus Gunn and Robby McCrorie saw them withdraw from the Scotland squad after Friday’s 3-1 defeat by Iceland.

With Craig Gordon, Liam Kelly and Zander Clark already missing for fitness reasons, Clarke sought some experienced cover and Doohan’s 18 games for Aberdeen this season saw him catapulted into the international reckoning.

Doohan was on a family holiday in Turkey when he got the call and immediately dropped everything to seize his unlikely chance.

The outgoing Dons goalkeeper, who is expected to return to Celtic this summer, was rewarded with his first cap in Monday’s 4-0 friendly win over Liechtenstein.

“It will take a few days to sink in, maybe a couple of weeks, but I’ve just got to enjoy the moment and it’s a massive honour,” he said.

“It was a bit of a whirlwind. I was on holiday in Turkey with my family and got the call late at night.

“As soon as I got the call it was just organise the flight early on the Saturday morning and then straight away meet the squad and train.

“Basically, as soon as I got the call, I phoned my dad who was in his room and I was like: ‘I got the call and I’ll be leaving in the morning’.”

A painful evening for 22-year-old Ipswich keeper Cieran Slicker in that friendly defeat by Iceland prompted Clarke to turn to Doohan to start in Vaduz.

“He just said I’ve been called up and I’ve had experience this season, played quite a lot this season so just go and do what I do,” said Doohan. “And then thankfully I got the nod to play and it was a great honour to get the first cap.

“I’ve played every age group from under-15s to 21s and to get my first cap is brilliant. Hopefully there’s many more.”

The travelling fans behind Doohan’s goal helped settle his nerves by chanting his name and cheering anytime he picked up the ball during the first half.

“It’s always great when you hear the fans sing your name,” the former Tranmere and Forest Green player said. “It’s a great feeling and it brought a smile to my face.”

Doohan did not have a save to make throughout the game and barely touched the ball in the second half.

“You get these games where you might not have a save but it’s all about concentration because anything can happen at any given time,” he said. “So I was happy with how the result went and obviously it’s a great honour.

“The early goal always settles everything. It could be a banana skin at these types of games but the boys went out and applied themselves and got the four goals and a clean sheet as well.”