Featuring in his first Scotland victory has whetted Aberdeen midfielder Ryan Christie’s appetite to stay in manager Alex McLeish’s squad.
Christie came on as a 77th minute substitute in the Scots’ 1-0 friendly win over Hungary in Budapest on Tuesday to earn his second cap after making his debut in a defeat to Holland at Pittodrie in November.
Having broken into the national side, Inverness-born Christie, who is on loan at the Dons from Celtic until the end of this season, is determined to keep his place ahead of the next friendly double-header away to Peru and Mexico this summer.
He said: “The manager is obviously still trying to get a squad that he can trust and gel together, so I think everybody’s aim and especially mine is to try and be a part of that – that is the plan.
“It’s always good to get minutes – no matter how many – when you’re away. I was delighted to win my second cap and to win it makes it better this time as well.
“There’s obviously a great sense of pride when you get a victory.
“The message from the manager and all the staff is that this gives us something to build on, as this team looks to try and get that winning mentality and winning feeling.
“It was a hard place to come but we did very well in difficult conditions so to come away with a win was just what we were after.
“It was a different experience coming away with the national team this time. It’s incredibly professional and it’s brilliant the way we are treated. It’s a fantastic set-up.
“Hopefully I can learn from this as well.”
Christie’s focus will return to Pittodrie this weekend with Derek McInnes’ men hosting St Johnstone on Saturday.
The Reds signed off for the international break with a 1-0 victory over Dundee to move to within two points of second-placed Rangers, and Christie is eager to pick up where his side left off.
The 23-year-old added: “When I’m back my head needs to be back on Aberdeen. There’s a big few weeks ahead, rounded off by the Scottish Cup semi-final against Motherwell, so we are looking at them and thinking we can win every game. That’s what we are trying to do.
“From the start it was our aim to finish second in the league and we’ve got a real chance and are all really confident we can go ahead and fulfil that. We certainly didn’t ever think it had slipped away from us.
“We put that pressure on ourselves, we don’t just hope, we expect it from each other to finish second now and it’ll be a disappointment if we don’t.
“So everyone will be battling when the run-in comes to try to get that second spot sealed.”
