Leeds United: McDermott’s joy as Ross called up

YEP 15/11/13
Leeds United boss Brian McDermott is backing red-hot striker Ross McCormack to grasp his belated opportunity with Scotland with both hands following his late call-up.
United’s in-form marksman, who shot to the top of the Championship scoring charts with a sensational four-goal performance at Charlton Athletic last Saturday, was drafted into Gordon Strachan’s squad on Wednesday evening after Blackburn Rovers’ frontman Jordan Rhodes withdrew with an ankle injury sustained in training.
McCormack is now eyeing a shock first start under Strachan in tonight’s clash with the USA at Hampden Park.
Last week, Strachan admitted McCormack could feel ‘unlucky’ in missing out on his original 25-man squad for the dual friendlies with the US and Norway, with the ex-Whites captain and Scotland boss picking just three recognised forwards in Rhodes, Steven Fletcher and Steven Naismith.
Along with the withdrawal of Rhodes, Strachan’s offensive options have also been further hit by injuries to attack-minded players in Matt Phillips, James Forrest, Chris Burke and James Morrison, who have all pulled out of the friendly dates with the US and Norway.
Scotland face the Norwegians in Molde on Tuesday.
McCormack, with six goals in his last two outings and 12 so far this term – is eager to make the most of his belated chance, with his sole appearance under Strachan coming as a late substitute in a home World Cup qualifier against Belgium on September 6. McDermott said: “If Ross gets his chance for Scotland, I am sure he will take it.
“It’s brilliant for him. He wants to play for his country and for Leeds and what’s good for Ross is right for me.
“Gordon rang me on Wednesday night and again in the morning and I appreciated the calls. It’s great for Ross; I had a little chat with Gordon and said how well Ross was doing and how much he wanted to play for his country. It’s good for him.
“Gordon will be delighted to have someone playing as well as him around.
“The thing from Ross’s point of view which I thought was really classy when he wasn’t initially picked was that he just said: ‘I want to keep going.’ I had a conversation with him and I said: ‘Just keep doing well for Leeds and going about your business the way you are doing’.”
Strachan is planning to give some less-established players a chance to impress against the US, which could spell good news for McCormack, capped nine times by his country and by no means a regular.
The Glaswegian’s last three Tartan appearances have been as a sub, with his last start coming in May 2011 in a Nations Cup game against Wales at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, when Scotland won 3-1.
McCormack, 27, whose international debut was in a friendly in the Czech Republic in May 2008, has scored two goals for Scotland. He netted in the 2-1 World Cup 2010 qualifying win over Iceland in April 2009 and in the 3-1 friendly victory over Australia at Hibernian’s Easter Road in August 2012 - the latter while a Leeds player.
On McCormack’s impressive season so far, McDermott couldn’t be more delighted.
He added: “Ross is really focused on what we are trying to achieve here. He knows how I have felt about him as a player for years.
“I scouted him years ago when I was at Reading and he was going to Cardiff and he knows what I think of him as a player.”
Also on international duty this evening is Paul Green, part of the Ireland squad for tonight’s friendly against Latvia in Dublin - Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane’s first game in charge.
United defender Marius Zaliukas is in Lithuania’s squad for their friendly against Moldova in Chisinau on Tuesday evening. He has been capped 22 times by his country.

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