David Bates has been handed a dream return to the Scotland squad, a month after telling head coach Sebastien Pocognoli to watch this space. The defender answered Pocognoli's late call and comes back into the fold after a seven-year absence following Luis Binks' injury blow.
Defensive crisis forces call-up
Pocognoli has faced mounting problems in defence, having already been forced to call on Ryan Porteous after Stephen Welsh withdrew from his initial squad. After Binks suffered the same fate, Pocognoli turned to former Rangers and Aberdeen defender Bates, who currently plays for Turkish Super Lig high-flyers Amed SK.
It is the first time since 2019 that Bates has been called up, with his last appearance coming in the 2-0 win over San Marino, the final game before Alex McLeish was dismissed. Bates, now 30, was called up once by Steve Clarke but was never capped.
Long road back
Bates could now make his return to the Hampden turf as a Scotland player against North Macedonia on Friday evening. The towering defender has taken a scenic route back into international contention, impressing in Turkey with third-placed Amed after spells with Hamburg in Germany and Belgian sides Mechelen and Standard Liege.
Speaking exclusively to Record Sport last month, Bates said he had never lost faith. He said: "Obviously, I still look for the squad announcements, I watch everything. I’ve just tried to play as well as I can here at a good level - and hopefully he’s watching. I hope I’ll get a call-up again one day but you never know as there are top quality players there."
He added: "It’s a good squad but he’s a Belgian coach so he’ll know the Belgian league really well. Hopefully he knows my face and I can get into future squads. I’ve got four caps already and it would be really good to get back in. It feels like a long time ago since I last played for Scotland."
Hampden return in sight
Bates spoke of his desire to pull on the Scotland shirt again, saying: "That feeling when you put the shirt on and walk out at Hampden is something else when you’re playing for your country. If I can get back in the squad it would be brilliant. My dad’s the same. He’s always messaging me asking if I think I’ll get back in. But I’ll keep playing, do good things here, and hopefully I’ll get rewarded."
Bates now has the chance to add to his four caps when Scotland face North Macedonia on Friday.
