'It's surreal': Bristol City's Tommy Conway reacts as he makes Scotland debut ahead of Euro 2024

Bristol City striker Tommy Conway said his late grandfather Danny would be looking down with pride as he savoured a special day for his family in making his senior debut for Scotland.

Conway came off the bench to play the final 27 minutes of Scotland’s 2-2 friendly draw against Finland and nearly found a winner for the hosts at Hampden Park as he leapt to connect with Greg Taylor's cross, but was denied by Viljami Sinisalo's sharp save.

Taunton-born Conway qualifies through his grandfather, who hailed from Stirling, while dad Joe has been a lifelong follower of the Tartan Army, and has extended family based north of the border.

It’s been quite the week for the Robins forward given he only joined the squad on Tuesday from the Under-21 set-up and is preparing for his first major tournament having made Steve Clarke’s final 26 for the European Championships.

“It's surreal. It hasn't really sunk in, to be fair, I probably won't sleep tonight. I know my granddad will be looking down and he'll be proud, and my family here as well and overall a really proud day,” Conway told BBC Scotland.

“100% [it's about family], I don't think there's anything better in football than making your family proud and playing on the international stage for your country is the pinnacle for me, so to do that today and make my debut, I think it's a really proud day all round.”

Scotland took a 2-0 lead in Glasgow as Arttu Hoskonen own goal on 54 minutes and Lawrence Shankland’s strike four minutes later put them in command but they squandered their advantage in the final 20 minutes, first to Benjamin Kallman before Oliver Antman equalised from the spot five minutes from time.

Manager Steve Clarke admitted it was a disappointing end to the contest as the Tartan Army go into Euro 2024 on the back of a 2-0 win over Gibraltar and the score draw against the Finns. They begin their tournament with the curtain raiser against hosts Germany next Friday.

Conway will be one of four forwards available to Clarke, with Che Adams and Shankland having found the target this week and surely competing for the starting berth at the Allianz Arena in Munich. But the 21-year-old showed his penalty box craft by creating the space for his late header which came close to delivering a perfect debut.

“I did think it was in for a split second, obviously I've hit the goalie, a couple of the lads, Scott McTominay was telling me why hadn't I scored. I said to him I'll be saving them for next week,” Conway added. “To be going there is a big honour and when I get the opportunity I'm going to take it with both hands.”

City teammate Ross McCrorie, who had started the previous encounter against Gibraltar, was an unused substitute at Hampden Park with Celtic's Anthony Ralston preferred at right-back and playing the full 90 minutes. Both will be on next week's plane to Germany.

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