Christophe Berra enjoyed coming in from the international cold to score a cherished late winner for Scotland against Northern Ireland on Wednesday night.
The 30-year-old Ipswich Town defender made his international debut as a late substitute in a 2008 friendly against the Czech Republic but under Gordon Strachan he has fallen down the pecking order behind Russell Martin, Grant Hanley and Gordon Greer.
With Hanley missing out on the Vauxhall International Challenge Match at Hampden Park through injury, the Scotland manager started with Martin and Greer before bringing on Berra for the Norwich City player at the start of the second half to win his 29th cap.
It was his first Scotland appearance since November 2013, when he came on as a last-minute substitute in a 1-0 friendly win over Norway.
And against Michael O’Neill’s side, the former Hearts stopper made good use of the extra game time to head in a corner from debutant Matt Ritchie with five minutes remaining.
He said: “It was my first appearance here for a long time.
“It was my third goal for Scotland so as a centre-half you cherish them when they come along.
“Obviously I have not played in the starting 11 for a long time or even come off the bench so you just have to keep on training and doing well.
“My main priority is to do well with Ipswich and I have been doing that for the last couple of seasons.
“That’s all I can do and if the gaffer asks me to come on, all I can do is be professional and do my job.
“Grant Hanley and Russell Martin have come in and done a really good job and have cemented their places.
“You are a footballer, you have to be thick-skinned and get on with it and see what the next game brings.
“Obviously the goal was good for my confidence but my confidence has been good.
“We are doing well at Ipswich, and me as an individual, and my main priority is doing well for my club as they pay my wages and If I don’t play well for my club, I won’t get selected for Scotland.”
Visiting keeper Michael McGovern made several saves in the first half to keep an enterprising home side at bay, most notably from Steven Fletcher and Ikechi Anya.
The Scots also had the best of a second half which was punctuated with substitutions but it looked like ending in a stalemate until the 85th minute winner from the Ipswich man.
It was a decent performance from the Scots as they turn their attention to their Euro 2016 qualifier against Gibraltar at the national stadium on Sunday although Gordon Strachan will be looking for his side to be more incisive in front of goal.
Strachan, as promised, utilised his squad with Ritchie handed his debut.
The English-born Bournemouth right winger, who qualifies through his father Alex, was drafted into the squad for the first time this week and was asked to support main striker Fletcher with Anya on the other flank.
Derby County defender Craig Forsyth made his first start as Celtic’s Craig Gordon was given the nod in goal and West Bromwich Albion midfielder Darren Fletcher took the armband.
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