Aberdeen's Graeme Shinnie thrilled with first Scotland call-up
Friday 6 May 2016 15:25, UK
Aberdeen full-back Graeme Shinnie has described his first Scotland call-up as a "very proud moment".
The 24-year-old was selected for the national side for the first time this week by Gordon Strachan for the final European Championship qualifiers against Poland and Gibraltar.
Shinnie captained Inverness Caledonian Thistle to their first ever Scottish Cup triumph last season before a summer move to Pittodrie where he has played a key part in Aberdeen's fine start to the season.
"It's a very proud moment in my career," Shinnie told Sky Sports News HQ.
"It is something that I've been looking to work on and looking to get because there has been a lot of talk about it over the last year.
Live Euro 2016 Qualifiers
"It has been something for me to kind of push myself to try and get and now that I've got it I need to go down there and try implement myself in the squad."
Shinnie has also described the prospect of taking on players such as Poland's Robert Lewandowski as a "surreal" experience.
The Bayern Munich striker is in a rich vein of form having scored 10 goals in three games and will be the biggest threat to the Scots at Hampden on October 8.
Gordon Strachan's side then travel to face Gibraltar three days later.
"Somebody asked me this the other day actually and it is a bit surreal for me talking about a player of his calibre, potentially playing against him," Shinnie said.
"I guess in football that is what you've got to do. You've got to get the head on to stop him from scoring his goals."
Watch Scotland's European Qualifiers against Poland and Gibraltar live on Sky Sports on October 8 and 11.
