Kilmarnock goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald is adamant his four team-mates deserve their Scotland call-ups – and insists the Tartan Army only need to glance at new manager Steve Clarke’s CV to know they can trust him.
Left-back Greg Taylor and striker Eamonn Brophy were the surprise inclusions in former Killie manager Clarke’s first squad and the pair will be hoping to make their debuts next month in crucial Euro 2020 qualifiers against Cyprus and Belgium. Right-back Stephen O'Donnell and centre-half Stuart Findlay have also kept their places in the set-up.
And former Hearts shot-stopper MacDonald insists one-time Chelsea and Liverpool assistant manager Clarke, who transformed Kilmarnock during his 19-month stint at the helm, knows what he is doing.
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MacDonald, who earned his first call-up for last November’s UEFA Nations League clashes against Albania and Israel, said: “You’ll always get people questioning it but that’s what you need in your team, you need people you know you can trust.
“It’s not as if the manager has just done it at a Kilmarnock for the last couple of years, his CV as a coach and manager is unbelievable and he has worked with some of the best players in the world.
“And if thinks you’re good enough then you’re good enough.
“I don’t think anyone can question his judgement in that sense with the players he’s worked with over the years.”
MacDonald has seen the Kilmarnock four flourish at close quarters, with the Ayrshire outfit setting a top-flight points record of 67 on their way to finishing third and qualifying for the Europa League this season.
He added: “It’s brilliant and it’s nice to see boys get credit.
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“It’s been a couple of good seasons for them, Stephen has been in the squad quite a few times now.
“Stu Findlay has had an unbelievable season, he got called up last time but now he’s kept this place in the squad.
“It’s nice to see young Greg and Eamonn get called up as well.
“Greg has been fantastic since he made his debut for Killie, he’s been brilliant and he’s a good lad as well.
"Eamonn had a great start to the season this year although unfortunately he’s had a couple of niggles during the second half of the season and maybe didn’t play as much as he wanted.
“He is obviously someone the manager trusts and he has seen him for the last two years.”
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