SHEFFIELD Wednesday right back Liam Palmer has admitted his first thoughts will be with his late nan Jean if he makes his long-awaited Scotland debut here in Astana tomorrow.
Palmer was a surprise inclusion last week in Alex McLeish’s 27-man squad for the national team’s opening Euro 2020 qualifiers against Kazakhstan and San Marino.
The 27-year-old defender hasn’t represented this country since featuring for the under-21 side way back in 2012.
However, the Worksop-born player is delighted to be involved once again and believes his grandmother, who hails from Carluke, would be thrilled as well.
“My nan was a massive part of my life,” he said. “She lived on the road opposite the school I went to as a little boy so every day after school I went there until my mum finished work.
“She loved football and she loved sport. If I had a game for the school she used to walk up the road and come and watch and then get me some food after and things like that.
“She never saw me play for the Scotland youth teams. She passed away just before that. My family on my mum’s side are all obviously really proud and she would have been really proud as well.
“I will definitely think of her. It was a shame towards the end. I went every day to visit her in intensive care. But it would be a great moment if I did make my debut.
“It’s a massive honour to be called up for the first team. Having been away with the 21s and being welcomed by everyone there. Obviously to make that step up to the first team would be a proud moment.”
While Palmer is happy to talk up one side of his family he is keen to play down another bizarre misconception about his background.
Namely, that Carlton Palmer, the former England striker is, contrary to his Wikipedia entry states online, not his father.
“If I had a pound for every time someone’s asked me that question I’d be doing alright,” he said. “I think the obvious connection is his link with Sheffield Wednesday and the surname. It’s an easy assumption to make.
“I’ve seen him over the years at a few games. I think Carlton was getting a bit sick of it to be fair. Sometimes I still turn up to games and someone says: ‘How’s your dad getting on?’ I say: ‘He’s fine! He’s standing over there!’ My dad’s called Terry. He’s a painter and decorator.”
Right back has been something of a problem position for Scotland in the past and Palmer is hopeful he can stake a strong claim for regular starting spot in the forthcoming double header despite being a surprise call-up.
“I’d like to think I can be a starter,” he said. “I wouldn’t be here otherwise. I’m there to compete and if given the chance I’ll do the best I can for the team.
“Playing over the last few years with a number of different managers, it’s been a bit stop-start for me. But this season it’s been good.”
“I’ve been playing regularly and we’ve been on a good run of form. With a few of the boys who had been regulars retiring, I thought the door was maybe left open there and luckily enough I’ve got the call and hopefully I can get some minutes under my belt.”
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