'I dream about it': Scotland ace ready to erase Hampden moment he 'can't live down' after key position switch

A late injury replacement at the European Championships two years ago after impressing as a central striker with former club Bristol City, Conway has since been capped six times by his country, but was not selected in recent squads and missed the memorable 4-2 win over Denmark that sealed qualification to the World Cup in November.

However, having impressed in a new left-wing role for EFL Championship automatic promotion chasers Middlesbrough, he was rewarded with a recall to the national team for the upcoming friendlies against Japan and the Ivory Coast this month. Confident his newfound versatility can be another weapon in Scotland’s offensive arsenal, he now ready to show why he deserves seat on the plane in June.

“I don't think I spoke for about five minutes when Scott [McTominay] scored the overhead kick [against Denmark],” laughed Conway. “My mouth was just wide open. Then Kenny's [McLean] goal as well. I feel like I really didn't know what happened after the game. Even the dog was going crazy. So we had it all going on in the house. But I was really delighted and then like I said, it really made me tune in and make sure I was in this next squad.

“I definitely feel like I can help them get off the last line, especially coming off the left where I've been doing it for Middlesbrough. That's a side of my game that's really improved, getting in behind and coming off to win. So, Naisy [Steven Naismith] was speaking to me about that this week, saying about my movement. Trying to improve all the time and, and do the things that I've been doing in training on the pitch in games. I feel like that is a big thing for me as well.”

Used as a central striker, or in the No 10 role in recent seasons, it was Middlesbrough’s new manager Kim Hellberg who first opted to use Conway off the left-hand side, praising his ability to run one-on-one and find combinations. “We have got a lot of points from his work on the left,” said Hellberg recently.

Appointed at the Riverside Stadium in November, Conway says his Swedish boss has unlocked a new level of confidence in him, which he is aiming to transfer to the international stage, starting with Saturday’s clash against Japan at Hampden Park.

“I feel like ever since he’s come in, the confidence that he’s given me, I don’t think I’ve ever had that from another manager before if I’m being honest,” said Conway. “So credit to him. He’s got the best out of me and he’s getting the best out of me week in, week out. When you have that from a manager, you just want to give back.

“When I got called up for Scotland, he was the first person to come up to me and said ‘you're back,’ and I was like: ‘Yeah, I'm back.’ We had a little laugh and a joke, but seeing the smile on his face for me, it meant a lot. So hopefully I can give back to him at club level as well by getting us promoted.

“It’s an added bonus [his position change], so I definitely do feel like that helps me. It’s just showing the manager [Clarke] that I can play there because obviously he hasn’t played me there before fully. So showing him in training that I can do it and if I get the opportunity in one of the games in that position, showing them that I’m capable of playing there as well.”

Little under two years to the day since he made his senior international debut as a substitute in a 2-2 friendly draw with Finland, Conway says he is desperate to break his Scotland duck, confessing that he is still a little haunted by the headed chance he missed in the Euro 2024 warm-up clash 20 months ago.

“I dream about that [scoring his first Scotland goal] every time I come away and getting that chance,” he said. “Ever since my debut, I had that header and then I haven't come close since. I won't live that down until I get my first one! Hopefully it's around the corner, but that would be a special day for sure.”

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