Ross McCormack interview: Count on McCormack

Published on Saturday 14 February 2009 18:37

EVEN IN these straitened times there is a skills shortage over one Scottish vacancy that urgently needs filled. The job spec for it might read: 'international forward required for World Cup qualifiers against Holland and Iceland, must be confident, crafty and capable of scoring goals. Temporary post created by injury absence of James McFadden'. Few need apply.

Now, though, an outstanding candidate may be emerging in the shape of Ross McCormack. The 22-year-old dare not assume a 16 goal-tally for Cardiff City little more than midway through his first season in English football places him in the frame. Neither, however, is he willing to close his mind to the prospect of gracing the Amsterdam Arena on March 26. "Obviously, I've thought about it, and it would be really good to play for my country, especially against Holland," he says. "But I know there are a few good players here and whoever the manager chooses they can do a job. I just hope I'm the guy."

Alex McLeish clearly thinks he could be the guy. Last week the man who gave up the Scotland post to take charge at Birmingham City said that the national side were "lucky" that McCormack, who made the breakthrough at Rangers under him, was in such good form while the talismanic McFadden was unavailable. "That kind of thing is good to hear," the player admits. "But he's not the manager. I would much rather George Burley was saying that."

A strong showing from McCormack tomorrow night when Cardiff scrap with Arsenal in a fourth round FA Cup replay and Burley might be saying that. If ever a game could be considered the footballing equivalent of an international job interview, it is McCormack's night in North London.

It is a date earned after a 2-2 draw at Ninian Park three weeks ago – an encounter McCormack believes should have marked the end of Arsenal's interest in the competition. "In the first half I thought we were out of sight and it's weird for a Championship side to say that against Arsenal," he says. "We had a lot of chances. I had a header in the first half that I saw kinda late when it came over the defender's head. A couple of other boys had chances and then I hit the bar at the end. It was just disappointing that we didn't actually beat them."

McCormack's presence at the Scotland squad get-together in St Andrew's last week should be taken as proof that he possesses the maturity to lead the line for Scotland in the Dutch capital. In January last year, with McCormack earning rave reviews at Motherwell, he rejected financially lucrative offers to sign pre-contract agreements with Wigan and Middlesbrough. He did so because he did not feel he was ready to hold down a regular starting berth in a Premier League and could not countenance returning to the bit-part status that left him so exasperated in his last season at first-club Rangers. It led to him joining Doncaster on loan before he fled to Fir Park in the summer of 2007 after Paul le Guen told him he had no Ibrox future.

"I did worry about turning down those moves (to Wigan and Middlesbrough] because, at 20, 21, there are not many boys who do that," McCormack says. He sought a switch to the Championship after soul-searching chats with former Rangers coach John Brown, his father, his agent and other players. They all advised him to trust his instincts. "I said to them, if I go to the Premier League and don't play that could be the end of me and I could come back and end up playing in the Scottish First Division for the end of my days. I didn't want to do that. I wanted to play at a good level and keep working my way up the ladder. They all said the same thing: you don't want to go to the Premier League if you don't think you are ready for it. To be honest, I don't think I am ready, was my reply. Playing most weeks, scoring goals, really enjoying my football and getting into the first team Scotland squad, I think my decision to join Cardiff has been justified."

McCormack, who still has blood tests every six to eight weeks after a serious bout of glandular fever wrecked his first season at Fir Park, lost his love of the game "sitting in the bench or sitting in the stands most weeks at Rangers". He rediscovered it as a Motherwell regular and pound signs dangled in front of him by Wigan and Middlesbrough were never going to be enough to put the rekindled relationship under strain. "You can't go from playing every week to playing once a month or in the reserves; it doesn't compare," he says. "There is not really any amount of money – unless you are talking Kaka money – that can sweeten that blow."

McCormack hardly chose of a path of penury in signing up for what is believed to be a 9,000-a-week salary with a club willing to push the boat out in pursuit of a Premier League berth. Especially when the lolly offered by interested English top flight clubs came in the form of sweeteners.

"I went down to speak to both of them a couple of times," he says. "It was kind of surreal. As a young boy you always dream of playing in the Premier but I had to be a bit more mature and think about what I wanted. I think they understood. Everything was incentive based. If you do this, we'll give you that; if you play this, we'll give you that. When I said I'm going to Cardiff because I want to play football, they accepted that."

Cardiff manager Dave Jones' record in trusting Scots – Kevin McNaughton, Gavin Rae and, now, Chris Burke providing home country comfort for McCormack – did not sway his decision. He headed to Cardiff because Robbie Fowler was then on the books. Initially disappointed the former Liverpool star left soon afterwards, the Scot now believes that was to his benefit in ensuring him more game time. There will be no shortage of that in the next five weeks as the Ninian Park club require to negotiate 10 league games in looking to build on a 13-match unbeaten run that propelled them to within touching distance of the second automatic promotion slot. Yet, in the domestic domain, McCormack is casting his mind further forward, to the next South Wales derby on April 4. A frighteningly fierce rivalry that, he maintains, surpasses the Old Firm confrontation that he experienced only from the bench and stands.

"The atmosphere in the two of these games I've played in is the best I've ever heard. And I'm not just saying this because I play for Cardiff now," he says. "I don't know if it is because they hadn't played each other for nine years before this season, but there is just so much hatred between the fans. Our supporters have to be bused in and out to games and then given a police escort because there would be so much trouble otherwise."

McCormack's own ability to make a nuisance of himself – in the penalty box – could yet make him the first-choice forward for the Scottish hordes who descend on Amsterdam by bus, train and plane.

FROM BLUE BOY TO BLUEBIRD

May 2004: Makes his debut for Rangers against future club Motherwell at the age of 18. Scores first goal for the club in the final match of the season against Dunfermline.

November 2005: Comes on as a substitute and scores vital equaliser against Porto in the Champions League group stage.

January 2006: Sent out to English League One club Doncaster Rovers on loan.

February 2006: Scores last-gasp equaliser against Hartlepool to keep Doncaster play-off hopes alive.

July 2006: Joins Motherwell after being released by Paul Le Guen. Goes on to score 10 goals in 48 appearances for the Fir Park outfit.

October 2007: Scores for Scotland U21 in 3-0 defeat of Lithuania.

October 2007: Wins Young Player of the Month Award.

February 2008: Comes close to signing for Wigan but deal falls through.

May 2008: Makes Scotland senior debut during 3-1 defeat against Czech Republic.

June 2008: Signs for Cardiff City on a free transfer.

August 2008: Scores first competitive goal for Cardiff against former club Doncaster.

February 2009: Currently Cardiff's top scorer with 16 goals in 23 starts.