Ryan Porteous insists he’s ready to graduate to the top level of international football four years after getting a schooling from Erling Haaland as U19 skipper.
The Hibs defender has his eyes set firmly on a full cap after being recalled for the first time since last November ahead of the Nations League clashes with Ukraine and Ireland. Porteous admits his club performances this season haven’t quite measured up to his own standards.
But the 23-year-old, who has yet to play a single minute for the top team despite three previous call-ups, is adamant he’s ready to take the next step and become a full-blown international. Porteous was skipper of the U19 side that lost a thriller 5-4 to Haaland’s Norway in 2018 with the Manchester City superstar notching a hat-trick. And he said: “That was interesting. He’s not bad, to be fair! That was one of the experiences you get from playing these kinds of games. You play world class players. I was still young then as well but you could tell that he would be a top player.
“These international games are great, they let you experience playing a different level of opposition and even the players you are playing alongside, who you can learn from. My performances this season have obviously been at a standard that convinced Steve Clarke that I'm capable of playing for his Scotland team.
“Do I feel they have been at the level they potentially could be? Potentially not. But I am in a Scotland squad, with the chance to prove myself, and that's what I wanted to achieve.
“I’m buzzing with that. It’s something I haven't achieved for a year now. But every time I have been in the squad I have really enjoyed it. You are only away for a week or 10 days but I do believe I become a better player being surrounded by these world class players so I'm looking forward to it and hoping I can grasp my opportunity.
“With previous call ups I was still young and a bit naive on the park but I feel I'm ready now to make that step up and be a Scotland centre-back. That is the next step for me and I feel i've put myself in a good position to be able to do that.”
Porteous never had the satisfaction of finding out about his recall himself - as best pal Martin Boyle stole his moment. He said: “It won't surprise you that Martin Boyle texted me because we had been planning a few rounds of golf and he asked if I had booked them yet and told me if I had then I'd better cancel them.
“I think the physio had told him when he was in here on his day off. So, he was the one who told me and he was buzzing for me.”
Before joining up with Clarke’s squad Porteous and Hibs are preparing for the visit of Aberdeen this afternoon. The defender endured a turbulent summer in which he was convicted of throwing a plastic tumbler in a pub which struck a female customer.
But he insists he’s learned his lesson and is keeping his head down, learning from new boss Lee Johnson. He said: “I have been solely focused on football and trying to let football do the talking and I’m just glad that I have got the reward for that. Everybody has learning curves but it is in the past and I am looking forward to concentrating on football and being rewarded for it now. Hopefully I can maintain that.”
Johnson hopes Porteous’ Scotland call-up will help convince the defender to sign a new deal at Easter Road. And the stopper said: “We’ve had chats and I’ve been pretty clear from the start that football is my main focus right now.
“Hibs are a big club, a massive club and if I am playing well and Hibs are performing then there is always the chance of getting international recognition. My main focus is getting my performance level up so I can make sure I’m in there regularly.”
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