James Penrice is a little annoyed his Rangers resurgence has been interrupted by the international break. But the Ibrox left-back will be more than happy if his spare time is taken up by an invite to Sebastien Pocognoli's Scotland set-up next time round.
The 27-year-old is taking some time off this week to recharge his batteries after two lung-bursting Old Firm performances. If he had his way, however, he would still be busy at work – either for club or country.
Turnaround at Ibrox
Penrice has played a huge part in the quick-fire turnaround of a Rangers team that looked to be falling apart only four weeks ago. His penalty miss against Jablonec helped consign Derek McInnes' team to a humiliating Conference League exit.
But since then, Penrice and the rest of his team have barely put a foot wrong, winning six games on the spin – with their double derby triumph over Celtic sealing a place in the last four of the Premier Sports Cup and reducing the Hoops' lead at the top of the table back to just two points.
Penrice has been among a number of Ibrox individuals to find themselves showered with praise for the performances in those back-to-back triumphs over their bitter rivals. It was his switch to a dual role between left-back and midfield in the Cup clash that helped nullify Benjamin Nygren's threat first time round, with the former Hearts defender then repeating the trick at Parkhead.
Scotland hopes
And it's those displays that have led to calls for him to be rewarded with a Scotland call-up. So far, they've been resisted by the country's new Belgian boss – even after Kieran Tierney's withdrawal due to injury. But Pocognoli has insisted the door is not shut on the Light Blues defender and Penrice certainly isn't giving up hope that he'll one day burst his way into the national team set-up.
Asked if he was expecting it this time round ahead of the upcoming run of Nations League fixtures, he said: "No, I was kind of focusing on just coming back here to Rangers and trying to enjoy football.
"It's been a mental couple of weeks, so Scotland hasn't really taken up my focus.
"But for me, obviously, I would love to play with the national team.
"It would be a bucket list item to tick off.
"It's something everybody dreams of, playing for their country. If I got the chance to do that one day, I'd be buzzing.
"For me, now it's about focusing on Rangers.
"But if in the future it comes up, then I'd absolutely be delighted.
"I'm very much just focused on Rangers.
"If Scotland comes, it comes.
"If my performances are as good as I want them to be, then hopefully in the future I get a chance to play for my country.
"But at the same time, yes, definitely, a massive club like Rangers should have a team full of internationals.
"Obviously, I want to join that and I want to play for my country. So, hopefully it happens in the future."
Rest and competition
Having missed out this time, Penrice has been afforded the chance to rest up. But the Ibrox energiser bunny insists he'd have preferred to have the chance for Rangers to build on their recent return to form.
"I didn't want to stop," he said. "I'd rather we'd kept going.
"It might be good to get a couple of boys back from injury, especially with it being a big international break as well.
"If we get a couple of boys back from injury after that, it'll be good for the squad.
"But, at the same time, if you're on a roll, you don't really want to stop. But, obviously, it's an international break so it's a chance for us all to recharge."
You might think with the pressure that was placed on McInnes' men by their stuttering start to the league season and double European exit, Penrice might be glad of the opportunity to switch off. But he said: "No I don't feel exhausted. Not at all.
"I'm just so glad there's a game every couple of days here.
"I think that's the good thing about having a game every two days. If the game doesn't go well, then you've got the next game straight away.
"I think we're playing well now. We're confident. Obviously, if you're on a roll, you don't really want to stop.
"But, it is what it is."
When the Rangers squad do return to action early next month against Kilmarnock, Penrice will find that he has Tuur Rommens breathing down his neck. The Belgian left-back was one of the few Ibrox players to emerge with any credit from last year's title race collapse and it was assumed he'd be a stick on to start every game under McInnes. But a combination of a groin injury and Penrice's arrival has thrown all that in doubt.
Penrice said: "Obviously, Tuur has come back into training. I watched a lot of games last year and you could see that Tuur is a very good player.
"So that can only help the squad, I think. Competition in every position is vital and I think you've seen that these last few weeks.
"There's massive competition now in the squad.
"The boys are fighting and scratching to try and get their name on the team sheet. So, it can only help Rangers.
"That's the way I see it."
James Penrice was speaking at the launch of the Rangers Charity Foundation's partnership with Down's Syndrome Scotland.
