The Robins Scottish kit man Scott Murray reckons Conway has the predatory instincts to find the net on the biggest stage in dark blue.
Tommy Conway simply requires one opportunity. It’s fortunate that Scotland manager Steve Clarke has given the striker the greatest chance of them all.
The Bristol City player received his first call-up to the national team ahead of Friday night’s friendly against Finland at Hampden.Since Lyndon Dykes was forced to miss the Euros due to a terrible training-ground injury, Conway has been elevated from the Under-21 team. Nevertheless, Scott Murray, Conway’s kitman and fellow Bristol City great, says there’s no way he could be in awe.
Rather, Murray believes his student has the potential to become a huge star in Germany, as seen by his work at West Ham. “Tommy was buzzing after he was called up to the full squad,” he remarked, sending me a FaceTime. Nothing will affect him. He has been unfazed by anything at Bristol City. That’s the kind of person he is.
Tommy is a young man, and it is normal to not feel under pressure when you are that age. You simply go play football outside and have fun. You don’t consider any other ideas.
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“Due to expectations, the veteran players will likely under a little bit more pressure. Tommy is going to go out there and try his hardest to score if he gets the chance. He won’t be considering any other ideas.
He definitely won’t let Scotland down if given the chance. I’m happy for him. He now has an opportunity to secure a spot on the Scotland 2024 squad. What a chance. This is the kind of boy who is going to seize it by both hands.
Conway led Bristol City with twelve goals. Although he has demonstrated his ability to perform at the top level, as evidenced by his two goals in FA Cup matches against Premier League West Ham, the majority of those goals have come in the Championship. “Tommy is a proper fox in the box,” remarked Murray. He’ll score whenever he gets the chance. He has been fantastic for us and has scored 12 goals for Bristol City this season.
“Achieving so many goals in the English Championship at the age of 21 is quite an accomplishment.” The Championship is an extremely difficult league that often goes unnoticed. Tommy participated in FA Cup matches in the Premier League against Nottingham Forest and West Ham, and he never seemed out of place.
“In the two West Ham games, he scored. The greatest tribute you can give him is that.
Murray, who played for the Scotland future teams under Berti Vogts, admitted it didn’t take long for word to get around that Conway could pull on the dark blue. He told Record Sport: “Last year we found out his grandfather was Scottish. When stuff like that becomes public it doesn’t take long for word to get around.
“The SFA did their homework and called him up. He has been captain for the Scotland Under-21s and the fact he got the armband so early in his 21s career just shows the type of person and character he is.
“He has come through the academy at Bristol City and been at the club since he was a little kid and that makes me even prouder. I have been at the club for a long time and it is brilliant to see local kids come through and make such an impact.”
Conway wouldn’t be a like-for-like replacement for Dykes but Murray knows that he would give Scotland a cutting edge in Germany, against the hosts, Switzerland and Hungary. The former Aston Villa winger warned: “Tommy is not to be underestimated.
“He is a very good finisher – one of the best at Bristol City. He just needs half a yard and he will find the net. Look at the goal he scored for Scotland Under-21s during the week against Turkey.
“It comes from his movement and he has got himself time and space and his header back across the goalkeeper was fantastic. That is Tommy and what he does.”
Bristol City team-mate Ross McCrorie already looks to have secured his place at Euro 2024. He made an impressive debut in the win over Gibraltar and will slug it out for the right-back slot with Anthony Ralston.
Murray added: “Big Ross was out for six months with the injury but he has battled back brilliantly. He has worked his socks off to get his Bristol City career up and running. He forced his way back in and he has forced his way into the squad for the Euros and that is absolutely brilliant. He has shown he is a top player.”
While many Bristol City supporters will be cheering them on, some will also be keeping an eye on Scotland’s and Austria’s advancement. “It would be fantastic for Bristol City to have two players competing at the Euros with Scotland in addition to Andreas Weimann, who is a member of the Austrian team,” stated Murray.
Murray, who is a huge Aberdeen supporter, is also thrilled to have McCrorie at Ashton Gate. He added a jest that he facilitates his work. “You can see Ross has played for Aberdeen [in the freezing conditions],” asserted Murray.
“He is the ideal kitman. He doesn’t feel the cold and never wears jumpers! I too am a huge Aberdeen supporter. He signed, and I was all over him immediately. It’s fantastic to see him and Tommy receive recognition in Scotland.
“Watching them and the team succeed this summer in Germany would be fantastic.”
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