Luis Binks revealed he has been desperate to play for Scotland for years as he recalled how he used to be envious of Aaron Hickey going off on international duty while they were team-mates at Bologna.
The 25-year-old Brondby captain, who was born in Kent but qualifies for Scotland through his grandfather, represented both Scotland and England at age-group level.
Binks’ appetite for a Scotland call-up was whetted during his time at Bologna when he used to see Hickey, a year his junior, head off to join the under-21s and then Steve Clarke’s full squad.
Now, more than four years after Hickey left the Serie A club, the pair are reunited at the Scots’ training camp in La Manga after new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli included the defender in his first squad for the upcoming Nations League matches against Slovenia (twice), Switzerland and North Macedonia.
“It was a few years ago that I was with Aaron in Bologna and he was going away,” Binks told Sky Sports. “He got called up while we were there and I also wanted to go.
“I could play for the under-21s at the time and nothing ever came of that but Scotland was always the one for me that I wanted to play for.
“Going back years ago, under-16s, when I went away with Scotland, the vibe was just so good. It felt like a proper team, it was just normal lads and you felt like you were playing with your mates so I knew there was always that feeling around it and I wanted to go and be a part of that again.”
Binks did not need to be asked twice when Pocognoli called him recently to sound him out about the possibility of coming on board with Scotland.
“He rung me probably about three weeks ago and just explained that I was in the picture a little bit,” the centre-back said.
“He never said that there was a guarantee of me being called up.
“But I think it was last Sunday now, he FaceTimed me and broke the news that he was going to call me up.
“I was over the moon, I couldn’t get off the phone quick enough to tell my mum and dad and everyone back home.
“I think if he had to try and convince me, it’s probably not the right thing but I didn’t need no convincing.
“I wanted to play for Scotland for years and now the opportunity has come, I’m just really proud. It’s about where you feel your heart is and where you want to go and this was the route I wanted to take.”
Binks is delighted that his form in Denmark has coincided with the arrival of Pocognoli.
“With the previous manager, there was no real contact, it was only really after the change of management,” he said.
“Hopefully I can get some minutes at this camp and then keep getting in the squads going forward.”
