Andy Considine reckons playing in the 2022 World Cup Finals would be the perfect way to top off his career.
The Aberdeen defender is desperate to be involved in the qualifiers in March, as he knows a strong showing in those ties would give him a great chance of being involved in the Euro Finals in the summer.
And looking beyond that, he is targeting Qatar itself as the potential pinnacle of his long playing career.
It was 13 years ago that the Don turned out for Scotland Under-20s at the age-level World Cup in Canada.
However, while he subsequently stepped up to represent the Under-21s, he had wait until this year to break through to the senior side, with the Covid pandemic presenting him with an opportunity he grabbed with both hands.
News of his new contract from Aberdeen is evidence of his club’s confidence in the 33-year-old’s future and, after the 12 months he has just had, he feels justified in believing that anything is possible.
“I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself. But, if Qatar was possible, it would be out of this world,” said the Dons defender.
“I remember playing in the Under-20 World Cup in Vancouver way back. That was an amazing experience.
“As a young lad that was a great experience. We played Costa Rica, Nigeria and Japan in our group.
“We didn’t win any games but just to be there was incredible.
“It has been an incredible year, experience-wise. I have managed to win three Scotland caps and signing for an extra year with the club is the icing on the cake.
“Aberdeen is a place that I love to bits. I have never thought about leaving and never wanted to leave.
“Although I had not been involved with a Scotland squad for 13 years, there was always that small amount of hope that one day I’d maybe get a call up.
“Covid problems and injuries helped give me that. But regardless of how it came about to be in among that group of players in Serbia was really special.
“Having Yes Sir, I Can Boogie, the song from my stag do, on in the dressing room afterwards was brilliant, something that I’ll take to the grave with me.
“Now it is on to the World Cup, and we have a tough draw.
“I’ve been very lucky to have been involved in the last two camps, and I just have to hope that I can play consistently and well enough that the Scotland manager thinks I’m due another call-up in March.
“It would be great to be a part of it and then, hopefully, into the squad for the Euros.”
As Considine acknowledges, his ambitions rely on continued good form. For himself, and for Aberdeen.
“Losing to St Mirren was a real sore one. That was part of a bad 10 days for us,” he said.
“That’s behind us now and we have the rest of the season to look forward to.
“It’s an important month. We have to get the results we need before we play Rangers at home on January 10. We want to be full of confidence for that one.
“We need to go on a winning run if we are to have any chance of getting that Champions League place.”
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has meanwhile voiced his unease at the Covid points deductions handed out to today’s opponents, Kilmarnock, and St Mirren.
“It’s such a tough one. But from purely a manager’s point of view I have so much sympathy for the other managers involved because it seems really harsh,” said McInnes
“None of us want points handed out without the games being played.
“Does the punishment fit the crime? I don’t know because I haven’t looked too much into the finer detail of the breaches.
“And I get the SPFL are under pressure to show a heavy hand.
“But the last thing we want as a league is to be deciding games without a ball being kicked.
“Could there have been something in between? Possibly, there could have been.
“I wouldn’t have liked it to happen to me, so I have great sympathy for the people involved.”
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