International breaks used to be an anxious time for Ryan Gauld. He’d be standing by his phone in case of a potential call-up, wondering if he’d done enough to impress.
Then invariably asking himself why it hadn’t happened. But not now. When Steve Clarke names his next Scotland squad for a friendly against Turkey in November, Gauld will probably have a bag packed. But not for a return to his homeland. Instead, it’ll be for a trip to Vancouver Island, Montreal or Calgary on a sight-seeing mission or well-earned holiday.
Gauld hasn’t given up on representing his country again but, at 26, is now philosophical about his chances. Of course, there’s still a burning desire to pull on that dark blue shirt again. But before it felt like the be-all-and-end-all to get international recognition while playing abroad. Not now. Gauld has been outstanding for Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS this season. He’s the guy team-mates and fans rely on for inspiration.
With five goals in nine games from September, he single-handedly gave them a shot at the play-offs – only to fall short last weekend. Gauld isn’t daft either.
He knows that Scotland’s attacking midfield is arguably the strongest area of Clarke’s squad. He’s competing with the likes of John McGinn, Stuart Armstrong, Ryan Christie and Ryan Fraser for a spot.
And there’s no doubt that being 4000 miles away certainly doesn’t help. But he refuses to let it weigh on his mind any more. He told MailSport : “It’s genuinely not something I think about now. A year or two ago, when I thought I was doing really well at Farense, I felt it might happen.
“But I’m at a stage now where it doesn’t enter my mind. When there’s an international break I’m looking at having a few days off and going somewhere nice in Canada with my missus.
“If it happens then great. But I won’t be upset if the next squad comes out and my name’s not there. I haven’t had any contact from Scotland or the SFA since Gordon Strachan was in charge.
“There’s been nothing at all. But they obviously have their reasons. The manager seems to have a group of players that he likes and he’s going with them.
“They just played Ukraine away when they had 15 or 16 players missing. But he still managed to get a squad together. So I know I’m nowhere near it and that’s why I won’t get my hopes up.”
Aside from Jack Hendry, who is now in Italy after a spell in Belgium, Clarke has seemed reluctant to call players up who aren’t based in the UK.
Like Gauld, Lewis Morgan – the New York Red Bulls fans’ Player of the Year – also can’t get a look in. But former Dundee United kid Gauld insists he won’t factor Scotland into his next career move.
He said “I look at Liam Henderson (in Italy at Empoli) and think he should be in and around the Scotland squad as he plays every week in Serie A. I played with him at Under-17s, Under-19s and Under-21s. Hendo is also a very good player so I’m surprised he’s not there.
“It took Aaron Hickey to move back to the UK before he really started getting called in. I’m not sure if there’s a bias there but being closer to home does seem to have a bigger appeal to them.
“But I’m never going to move somewhere in my career just to have an outside chance of getting into a Scotland squad. I’ll do what’s best for me and what makes my family happy.
“That’s our focus. We won’t play and live somewhere we don’t want to be just to increase my international chances by five per cent. You can’t take gambles like that in your career.
“We’ve always said we don’t want to live in the UK – we want to have more experiences abroad. If that means being further away from home and having even less chance of being called up, that’s the way it is.”
And why shouldn’t it be? Gauld’s big-money move to Lisbon in 2014 didn’t work out the way he hoped it would. But he was a stand-out for Portuguese outfit Farense before his MLS switch.
He would like another crack at Europe in the future. But right now, he’s as content as he’s ever been in his career. He said: “This is probably as happy and settled as I’ve felt since leaving Scotland.
“How many times did I get to the end of a season and didn’t really know where I was going to be the following year? Knowing that I’m here for the next couple of years is quite comforting.
“We’ve got the break coming up now but I know I’ll still be here in January. It’s nice to feel that way for a change. I’m loving life and Vancouver is such a great place to be. As a player, I feel like I’m just getting into my prime.
“I’m still only 26 and it feels like I’ve been around for ages because of the places I’ve been to. But I still feel I’ve got loads left in me. I’d like to think I’ve got 10 years to go.
“My body feels good so let’s get to 35, take it year by year and see what happens! From the age of 16 I’ve been in and around the Dundee United first team.
“But I don’t feel drained out or anything like that. I’ve got good experience and try to use that now. For a few years it was tough for me in Portugal.
“But I use that now to try and make better decisions for my career. In future, I’d probably like to have another experience in Europe, whether that’s in Portugal where I loved living and playing – or somewhere else.
“I’d probably like to finish on a new challenge but that’s a long way away. For the next few years, I’m looking to be in Vancouver and kick on.
“I want to help this team push forward because it’s been a while since they’ve had any success in MLS. I want to build something here and be part of it.”
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