Steve Clarke urged by former Jambo to include 'phenomenal' Hearts ace in Scotland squad for upcoming fixtures
The Scotland boss has been urged to take a punt on a Gorgie star who has been a ‘revelation’ this season.
As Steve Clarke prepares to announce his Scotland squad for their upcoming friendlies against Japan and Ivory Coast, Paul Hartley believes Hearts’ Harry Milne has done enough to warrant a National Team call-up.
Hartley managed the left back at Cove Rangers, where he started his career. Since leaving the Balmoral Stadium in 2022, Milne’s career has went from strength-to-strength, earning his Hearts move in the summer after three impressive seasons with Partick Thistle in the Championship. Whether he’s been deployed at the left of a back five or on the right hand side of midfield, Milne has been a consistent performer for Derek McInnes thus far and is now knocking on the door for his first Scotland call-up.
Due to the longevity and success of Scotland captain Andy Robertson and Celtic’s Kieran Tierney, it has been nigh on impossible for any Scottish left backs to make their way into the starting XI over the past decade. The likes of Greg Taylor, James Penrice and Josh Doig to name a few have all fell victim of this, however given the experience of Milne, who has played in every SPFL division, Hartley believes after his consistent performances in a maroon jersey he deserves a chance to represent his country.
‘Who is a better left back in the league?’
Former Hearts midfielder, Hartley, who returned to Cove in 2023 after a brief spell at Hartlepool, is full admiration for Milne and the way he’s handled the pressure of moving up to not only a Premiership side, but a team that are in the midst of a top-flight title race.
He told the P&J: “I think he’s got a chance, his form’s been exceptional. Tell me who is a better left back in the league at this moment in time? When you go to Hearts, you have to handle the expectation when you go there as a player. I know what it’s like. I was there for four years.
“It’s a hard place to play but the fans love him there and I hear them singing his name. It’s not just setting up goals, it’s his overall play. He’s just been a revelation and I’m really pleased for him. A lot of people are raving about Harry these days and rightly so as he has been phenomenal this season.”
‘He deserves it’ - Hartley makes case for first Milne cap
At 29, perhaps time isn’t on the side of Milne in terms of a Scotland call-up, however Hartley, who was a late bloomer on the International scene himself, believes current form should be prioritised over age. He continued: “I like to see players go on and play as high as they can and Harry’s doing that. He’s not a youngster, he’s 29, but I was 28 when I got my first cap.
“He can only do what he’s doing just now, but I think he’s got a chance to be in the squad – and I hope he does make it. He deserves it. If you think about where he’s come from to where he is now, playing for the team at the top of the league, it’s testament to the boy. We’re proud to have played a part in his development but he’s done a lot of it himself.
“I worked with him for three years of his time with us and tried to guide him a bit but it was obvious he was a good professional with good habits. When the chance came to go to Partick we couldn’t stop him but he’s continued to flourish. He’s been one of the players of the year in Scotland so far this season and he must have a chance of being in the squad.”