Scotland defender John Souttar says taking part in for the nationwide crew together with his childhood buddy Ryan Gauld has been “superb”.
The 28-year-olds performed soccer collectively as youngsters in Aberdeenshire earlier than they progressed by way of Brechin Metropolis’s youth crew.
They then each moved to Dundee United – the place they shared lodging with Scotland captain Andrew Robertson – and have become first-team regulars at Tannadice earlier than their careers took totally different paths.
Souttar moved to Coronary heart of Midlothian in 2016 then Rangers in 2022 whereas Gauld is at Canadian membership Vancouver Whitecaps by way of spells in Portugal with Sporting, Vitoria de Setubal, Aves and Farense in addition to mortgage transfer to Hibernian.
The pair performed steadily collectively in Scotland youth sides and had been reunited in darkish blue when Gauld got here off the bench to affix Souttar in Saturday’s 2-1 Nations League defeat towards Croatia in Zagreb.
The playmaker, as soon as thought to be some of the proficient younger gamers in Europe, did likewise towards Portugal at Hampden Park on Tuesday.
“It is superb,” mentioned Souttar after the 0-0 draw that ended Scotland’s run of 4 consecutive defeats.
“Clearly, we grew up collectively. Our dad and mom are mates, and we performed since we had been tiny, at a boys membership, at college – we went to high school collectively.
“We now have been by way of all the pieces and now we’re collectively within the nationwide crew. So, yeah, it is superb.”
