Jamie Gullan aims to fulfil his dream of playing for Scotland

Striker was selected for Under-21s before coronavirus lockdown

Jamie Gullan

Jamie Gullan still hopes to fulfil his dream of playing for Scotland after having his international debut put on hold by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Hibs striker received his first national call-up only days before the football shutdown when he was named in Scot Gemmill’s Under-21 squad for the European Championship qualifiers with Croatia and Greece at the end of March.

It came on the Monday after his first Hibs start away to Aberdeen, having scored his first goal for the club off the bench in the Scottish Cup win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle two weeks earlier.

While the health crisis is at the forefront of Gullan’s mind, his career ambition is to represent his country so he is praying the chance will come again.

“I was buzzing with the call-up,” he told the Evening News.

“I got my first start for Hibs and that came two days later, so it was a really good week for me.

“Then we got a message in the chat saying it was going to get cancelled, and for me it was terrible timing.

“Hopefully once it starts back up again I’ll have another chance to pull on the shirt.

“If not, I’m going to have to hope and pray it’s a first-team call-up in the future.

“That’s the ultimate ambition. That’s what I’ve wanted since I was a young boy.

Saying that, I know it’s going to be tough, but that’s ultimately what you want.

“This is my last year of 21s football so that’s the next step. You can always dream and hopefully one day it comes.”

Gullan’s 22nd birthday falls next July so his hope is that international football can resume before he becomes ineligible for the Under-21 set-up.

“This is my last year of it, so hopefully I can get back in time for a call-up or a game or two,” he said. “It would be great to get out and play for the country.

“I was looking forward to getting in to see all the different players in training, to see the standard of it, and test myself against really good players.

“And if I got on the pitch I was looking to carry on the form I had been showing for Hibs and Raith and try to make a positive impact.”

Gullan was particularly looking forward to linking up with Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour after watching his two man-of-the-match displays for the Premier League side.

“It was great to see for a young Scottish player,” he said.

“It would be great to play with him. He’s a really good young player, and he’ll be one for the future of the first team I’m sure.”