From boy to man and back, Jordan Rhodes is walking in Denis Law’s footsteps

WHEN Jordan Rhodes strode onto the pitch 86 minutes into the 2-1 win for Craig Levein’s side over Cyprus on Friday night, the 21-year-old striker became the first Huddersfield player since Denis Law to earn a Scotland cap.

When he leads the line for Billy Stark’s under-21s in their European Championship qualifier away to Holland tonight, Rhodes will become the first player in recent times to feature at the two most senior levels for Scotland only days apart.

The second slice of history will not feel like small potatoes compared with the first to the impeccably-mannered youngster. “In no way will it be a comedown after playing for the full team,” said the player, who qualifies for Scotland through the five-year schooling rule.

“It’s a real honour to play for the under-21s as it was only five or six months ago that I made my debut at that level. I was sky-high then to play for my country, having not played for Scotland at any other level before then.

“I’m delighted to play for Billy Stark and Jim Fleeting and I’m focused on the job in hand.

“As soon as I came off the field on Friday night then my focus immediately switched to the 21s. Even when I was away in Cyprus I was still thinking about this game as it’s vitally important. I wasn’t getting carried away or taking my eye off the ball.”

He added: “We’ve got a massive match against Holland. Any away game is tough but one against a country of that pedigree and stature will be a real tough test. We will have to be at our best to get a result.”

Rhodes flew to Holland yesterday from Glasgow. He had jetted into Scotland from Cyprus with the senior squad the day before. He could have probably just floated over to central Europe without the need for any planes, so high was he about his debut.

“It was really overwhelming, just fantastic to get on. It was something I had dreamed about since I was a young boy. It was fantastic to get on and play some part,” he said.

The humility of the son of former St Johnstone, Dunfermline and Airdrie keeper Andy Rhodes extends to the Law connection, which he does not necessarily consider that the player, arguably Scotland’s greatest of all time, first capped in 1958, will make.

“I’ve seen a couple of pictures around the Huddersfield stadium of Denis Law and if I can have half, or even just a quarter, of the career that he had then I will be a very lucky boy, the striker said.

“I don’t know if Denis will know who I am but I certainly know who he is. I think he has a book coming out soon and that will definitely be worth a purchase.”

Meanwhile Rhodes, who has only an English bloodline, will be hoping to write a few chapters in his life representing Scotland – a side to which he is still not officially committed, having yet to play competitively at senior level for the country.

“It was never in doubt that I would be sticking with Scotland,” he said. “That was never in question as I’m Scottish through and through. I had all the jerseys when I was younger and grew up watching Scotland, so being on the bench and getting on was a really special moment.

“I had been to watch a couple of games before so it was great to come to an away game and watch it from the subs bench. It was fantastic to watch so many good players. I kept my shirt so hope I can get it framed now. It will be nice to put it on the wall and see it in the house.”