Celtic transfer confession as ex star admits Hoops exit should've happened sooner amid hope of Scotland impact
Former Hoops shot-stopper has been one of the busiest goalkeepers in the Premiership this season, which has earned him a national team recall
Scott Bain is back in the Scotland squad for the first time in six years – admitting he regrets not leaving Celtic sooner in order to boost his chances of returning to the international fold.
He made an immediate impact after joining the Bairns and has been one of the busiest shot-stoppers in the top-flight this season.
Bain has already played more football so far this term than he has in the last four season combined, and his impressive form between the sticks earned him a long awaited recall to the national team by head coach Steve Clarke last week.
He'll compete with veteran Hearts keeper Craig Gordon and Rangers understudy Liam Kelly for the gloves for the crucial World Cup qualifying double-header against Greece and Denmark.
Why Scott Bain feels he should’ve left Celtic sooner
His call-up is further vindication of his decision to walk away from Celtic, where he'd spent the majority of his time as third-choice, in pursuit of regular game time. And Bain concedes it's a decision that he should have made much earlier.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Bain said: “At times I didn't think a call-up would come again. Looking back now, I probably should have left Celtic and made the jump to get back playing football a little bit quicker.
“It's difficult at times. You have a family, a house and a mortgage, bills to pay. It's difficult to leave a contract that's there for you. It's easy to say in hindsight 'I should have done it years ago.' But I've done it now and I'm thankful that I've been given an opportunity.
“I always had belief in my ability that if I did get back playing, I could get to a standard where I could potentially (be called up). I should have probably done that earlier and the circumstances maybe didn't allow for that at the time.
“I feel like I've made the right decision, 100 per cent. Because of this. I used to sit in meetings at Lennoxtown and we'd be analysing the team we were playing. I'd drift off at times and think 'that could be me, I could be in that analysis.'
“Getting in about it and having the build up to a game, it took me a while to figure out what's my routine for a game, what's my warmup going to be. I think we've nailed that down now and I feel really comfortable going into games.”
How Scott Bain learned about international recall
Discussing how he find out about his recall to the Scotland squad, Bain added: “I actually got a text the night before just asking if I was fit and available, which I hadn't had before. I just texted back saying, 'yeah I'm good to go.'
“I found out, just when everyone else found out, and got an email from the SFA after that. I was in here so I was just sort of chilling on the physio bed and got the news, so it's amazing.
“It's actually a £5 fine I've got, so we get fined for everything here. International call-up is now a £5 fine, but they're delighted for me, so it's been great.”
What Scotland coach has said about Scott Bain’s cap chances
Scotland assistant coach Steven Naismith has made it clear that Bain has just as strong a chance as Gordon and Kelly to be handed the gloves for the two massive upcoming qualifiers.
Speaking from the team’s training camp in Turkey, the former Jambos manager admitted: “Every one of them has got different qualities and every one of them will be sitting hoping that the manager feels their qualities are what should be selected.
“But I think he (Steven Clarke) will have an idea, he's somebody who is a real thinker. He will weigh everything up and probably get to the end point in a day or so's time. But what I would say is that even today in training all the goalies have performed. And that's what I go back to. It's an opportunity. There's no clear front runner.
“Liam Kelly hasn't played a lot of football. He has fitted in and so has Scott Bain, who's been away for six odd years since he has been in a squad. They all seemed in a good place, and that comes with the sense of opportunity they all have.”