DAVID Clarkson was thrilled to earn a surprise first call-up to the Scotland squad – even though it meant throwing his friend's wedding plans into disarray.
The Motherwell forward, 22, was set to be best man at the nuptials of St Mirren's Stephen O'Donnell on Friday.
But the only speech Clarkson had to make was when he broke the news that he would not be at the church on time after all – and would ins
tead be in the Czech Republic with the rest of George Burley's squad.
"It went well and Stephen is delighted for me," said Clarkson. "With him being a footballer, he understands. I explained I got a call-up and he is delighted for me.
"That's football and you have to do these things. I couldn't think of a better reason for not being a best man than getting called up to the Scotland squad."
The news was delivered to a shocked Clarkson by his former Motherwell manager, Terry Butcher, on Monday morning after Burley had suffered several withdrawals ahead of the friendly in Prague.
"It was very unexpected, it was a big surprise for me," he confessed.
"It was the last thing I thought would happen at such a young age, but I'm delighted to be here.
For me, it's a great achievement and I just want to enjoy it.
I've had a good season – well I think I have, anyway. It has been a big season for me and the gaffer (Mark McGhee] has come in and changed things about, and that has helped me a lot.
"It's been a very long and difficult season. From my point of view, I was playing until the last game of the season last Thursday and I was looking forward to relaxing. When I got the call, that went out of the window and I'm delighted I'm here now."
Clarkson suffered the tragic loss of his uncle, Phil O'Donnell, on 29 December when the Motherwell captain collapsed during the Premier League game against Dundee United at Fir Park and later died.
"It's been hard and I've had to deal with a lot of stuff," Clarkson said. "I've a lot of people to thank for helping me out
. I don't think I will move on completely, I'll never be the same. But my career goes on and I just need to take each day as it comes."
The full article contains 409 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
