Aberdeen ace Nicky Devlin's Scotland call-up is good news for Gartcairn boss

Former Gartcairn coach Nicky Devlin has been called up by Scotland after impressing with Aberdeen this season
-Credit: (Image: SNS Group)


Gartcairn boss Mick Dunlop was delighted to see former coach Nicky Devlin receive a Scotland call-up after impressing at Aberdeen during their astonishing winning run.

The Dons are neck-and-neck with Premiership leaders Celtic, and right-back Devlin has been an integral part of those performances.

That has resulted in the 30-year-old receiving a first-ever call-up for the Nations League double-header against Croatia on Saturday and Portugal the following Tuesday.

Devlin knows the defender from their time at Dumbarton, and assistant Paddy Boyle played with him at Ayr United, so when they took the job at Gartcairn, Devlin opted to help out.

A delighted Devlin said: “I’ve known Nicky for years. He was a young boy coming through at Dumbarton when I was there, I’ve kept in touch, and Paddy, our assistant manager, played with him at Ayr as well.

“Nicky coached with myself and David Gormley when we were at Broomhill, so when me and Paddy got the job at Gartcairn, he came in with us in our first season.

“He obviously couldn’t come to games, and it was in a non-official capacity. He would just come and help us with training, but Nicky played a massive part in helping us get over the line and win the league.

Devlin is training with the Scotland squad ahead of Nations League matches against Croatia and Portugal
Devlin is training with the Scotland squad ahead of Nations League matches against Croatia and Portugal -Credit:SNS Group

“He was playing with Livingston then, but he got the move to Aberdeen and it meant, logistically, he wasn’t able to come in and help us out.

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“He’s a great guy, Nicky, and I’m delighted for him, because he’s established himself as a really good right-back in the Premiership, and that’s how he got his move to Pittodrie.

“By all accounts he’s done really well there, so to top if all off, and get a Scotland cap, is magnificent for him and his family.”

Gartcairn on Saturday had a bye in the West of Scotland Cup first round, with them hosting Darvel in the second round in November.

Dunlop was keen to keep the momentum going, however, so they played against West of Scotland First Division side Kirkintilloch Rob Roy in a friendly.

Dunlop is pleased to see his pal doing well with Aberdeen and Scotland this season
Dunlop is pleased to see his pal doing well with Aberdeen and Scotland this season -Credit:Lyndsay Christie

Dunlop said: “I don’t think anybody’s going to knock back getting a bye in a cup competition, but we’re on a really good run of form just now.

“I think in our last seven games now we’ve had five wins, one draw and a defeat, so we’re in a good place.

“We didn’t want the break, which is why we organised a friendly game.

“It’s good to get a game, and it also gives guys who’ve not been playing as much a bit of game-time.”

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