GOOD things come to those who wait. Then again, the use of a booze-related marketing line for a well-kent Irish beverage is perhaps not the best introduction for Kevin McDonald. Back in 2010, the Scot was hauled off at half time when relegation-haunted Burnley were already 5-0 down to Manchester City and was later seen in a nearby pub watching the second half on the telly with his dad.

“Not many people mention that now and I’ve moved on from that,” he said somewhat sheepishly. “I was young and naive as a person and a player. Everyone makes mistakes and I made a big one then. I apologised for it. It’s forgotten about and now I’m in a much better place on and off the pitch.”

Redemption is the name of the game and McDonald’s past has helped to shape his present. Along with his Scottish team-mate, Tom Cairney, he is flourishing at Fulham as the Craven Cottage club make a robust assault on promotion back to the English Premier League.

It has taken a while for McDonald to earn international recognition. A first cap beckons against Costa Rica this week and an appearance in the dark blue of his country would go some way to lifting, well, the blues he felt when he got to Hampden with another team in that particular colour.

“I remember being dropped for Dundee against Gretna in the Scottish Cup semi-final,” he said of that last-four encounter in 2006 which Gretna would win 3-0. “It was the only previous time I was going to play at Hampden as a first team player.

“I’d played the week before and thought I was going to be in the team. I came on as a sub but most people thought I would start. I think when it came to it the manager, Alan Kernaghan, maybe thought it would be too big for me. I was only young, I was 16, and I can’t remember doing much after I came on. I was told on the day of the game I wouldn’t be starting and I was upset at the time.”

Playing his part in the national stadium on Friday night would be another sizeable stride in McDonald’s resurgent career.

“It would be such a big moment for me,” said the 29-year-old. “Personally, I’d see it as a sign of how far I’ve come. I’ve worked all my life for moments like this. It feels like a long wait. I think I’m younger than 29. You have to keep faith but after a few years of missing squads you start to doubt it.”

Eager observers are already suggesting McDonald can be an identikit replacement for Scott Brown, who has retired from the international scene.

“Fair play to Scott, he’s had a fantastic career and if I can do anything like he’s done then it would be great,” he said. “Physically and as a player I feel I’m much better than I was five years ago. All that experience on and off the park means I feel ready. Until I get the chance you can’t show that. This is a chance for me to put down my mark.”