Hughes: I cost Shinnie a cap chance

Inverness manager John Hughes admits he may have cost Graeme Shinnie his place in Gordon Strachan’s Scotland squad for next month’s friendly clash in Poland.

Strachan has called up Dundee United left-back Andrew Robertson, but Hughes insists his defender Shinnie is better. However, the Caley Thistle
manager admits playing the 22-year-old out of position may have played into the hands of Robertson.

Speaking ahead of today’s Premiership trip to St Johnstone, Hughes told CaleyJagsTV: “The boy Robertson at United has been called up and he is a wonderful footballer who will have a great career, so it’s a great decision to call him up to the Scotland squad. But at this moment in time, is he better than Graeme Shinnie? No he’s not.

“The reason I feel that way is because I’m the manager of
Inverness and I am biased. Maybe Gordon has not had the chance to see him because he’s only played left-back three times since I came to the club. Graeme is that versatile that he’s been playing right-back or in midfield. He’s just a great footballer.”

Hughes appealed to Strachan to give Shinnie more thought before naming his next squad. He joked: “My message to Gordon – who is a good friend of mine and who plays at the same golf club as I do – is that if he doesn’t get Graeme in the squad he won’t be getting a game of golf next time. I have been in the game for 25 years and I will say it: Graeme Shinnie is one of the best left-backs in Scotland.”