'This is mental!' - Rangers prospect details Kilmarnock loan benefit after earning shock maiden Scotland call-up
The 19-year-old winger has produced a string of eye-catching displays on loan at Kilmarnock winger and has impressed national team boss Steve Clarke
Findlay Curtis has revealed he was “bursting with pride” after being told of hi surprise Scotland squad inclusion for the upcoming friendlies with Japan and Ivory Coast later this month.
The 19-year-old Rangers winger, who is currently on loan at fellow Premiership side Kilmarnock, was named in Steve Clarke’s latest 26-man squad for the pre-World Cup warm-up matches after producing a number of eye-catching displays following his deadline day switch to Rugby Park last month.
Curtis becomes the first outfield player for Kilmarnock to be called up for national team duty since Stephen O’Donnell back in October 2019 and admitted his family were brought to tears when the announcement was made.
And Curtis has detailed the main reasons behind why his decision to leave the Ibrox club on loan move has been so beneficial to his progression.
“It’s unbelievable,” Curtis told KillieTV. “Obviously, I didn’t expect it at such a young age but it’s a dream come true and I can’t wait to get going.
“I got a call yesterday from the gaffer [Neil McCann] here and he said 'you are in consideration for the [Scotland] set-up'. I was sitting thinking to myself: 'Jeez, this is mental!'. He then phoned me and told me I was in the full squad and I was just bursting with pride. I told my mum and dad and my mum started crying. It's huge.
“Getting out and playing football has been massive for me and I think that's a factor in getting this call-up. I will keep working hard and see what else can come.”
Curtis’ maiden call-up comes off the back of an excellent performance in Kilmarnock’s 1-0 win over Premiership leaders Hearts at Rugby Park last weekend - a performance which McCann described as “electric”.
The Kilmarnock boss stated: “Finn played tonight, probably the first time in his proper position off the wide position. Especially in that first 20 minutes, he was absolutely electric.
“The eye-catching stuff’s good, but all the dirty stuff I love as well. For a young boy, his understanding of the game is impressive. He dropped in as a four at times and stopped switches and stopped Hearts getting into positions to cross it in.”
Scotland call-up caps off breakthrough season for Curtis
It caps off an impressive breakthrough season for the teenage prospect, who made his first-team debut for Rangers in a 2-1 Europa League defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford last term.
He impressed previous Light Blues head coach Russell Martin during pre-season and started the current campaign by scoring his first senior goal in a 2-0 win over Panathinaikos in the Champions League qualifiers back in July.
Curtis made the step up to the under-21 squad for the first time in October. He featured 21 times for Rangers across all competitions during the first half of the campaign before heading to Ayrshire on a temporary deal until the end of the season.
It hasn’t taken Curtis long to establish himself as a regular in the starting XI under former Rangers stalwart McCann and his assistant Billy Dodds.
Scotland squad to face Japan and Ivory Coast in full:
Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest), Liam Kelly (Rangers)
DEFENDERS
Grant Hanley (Hibs), Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), Dom Hyam (Wrexham), Ross McCrorie (Bristol City), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Everton), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Kieran Tierney (Celtic)
MIDFIELDERS
Ryan Christie (AFC Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), Andy Irving (Sparta Prague), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich City), Scott McTominay (Napoli), Lennon Miller (Udinese)
FORWARDS
Ché Adams (Torino), Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough), Findlay Curtis (Kilmarnock), Lyndon Dykes (Charlton Athletic), George Hirst (Ipswich Town)