Charlie Mulgrew 'honoured' to wear armband against Costa Rica
The Blackburn defender has been made captain for Friday's friendly
Charlie Mulgrew says it's a "massive honour'' to be handed the Scotland captaincy for tomorrow night, and that he just plans on continuing doing the things that have earned him the armband.
The Blackburn defender will lead the nation in Friday's Hampden friendly against Costa Rica as Alex McLeish kicks off his second spell in charge.
Scott Brown's retirement from international football and the absence of Darren Fletcher left a vacancy in that role, while Kieran Tierney, who skippered the Scots against Holland in November under caretaker boss Malky Mackay, pulled out with a calf injury.
Mulgrew said: "It's unexpected but I'm very honoured. I grew up watching Scotland so to be captaining the team is great. It's massive. I grew up a Celtic fan, captained them, and to captain my country is right up there with that.''
The 32-year-old will try not to over-think the extra responsibility that comes with the job.
"I hope the reason I'm captain is for what I've been doing and how I carry myself about the place and how I've played for Scotland in the past,'' he said. So I just look to continue to do that.
"I just try to do what I've been doing, be how I am about the place. I'd like to think I am already respected in the squad and I have a lot of caps for my country. I will keep doing what I'm doing and hopefully that's enough.''
The long-term captaincy remains up for grabs with McLeish unable to confirm his skipper for Tuesday's encounter in Hungary.
"Charlie is a natural choice,'' McLeish said. "It's for this game, we will see what happens in the next game.
"This year with Blackburn he has excelled and he really looks a class act in that league. But we know he has played at the top level.
"Internationals are routine for Charlie and we want him to help the young kids round about and guys maybe coming into the team for the first time. Charlie is a good leader and he deserves to be captain.''
McLeish could potentially hand debuts to nine players and Mulgrew hopes the shift in dynamic brings a spark on the pitch.
Mulgrew said: "Training's been brilliant. Everyone is working hard to stay in the squad and push for starting places, so that makes a good atmosphere and hopefully a better performance on the pitch.
"It's naturally different because there's a new manager and a new staff and a lot of players who have not really been called up before. There is naturally going to be a different feeling and a freshness.''
The former Wolves and Aberdeen player was a regular alongside Christophe Berra as Scotland went unbeaten in 2017 but the Hearts defender found himself out of the squad as McLeish gives youth a chance.
Other experienced players have been left wondering if their time with Scotland is up, but Mulgrew has always been concerned about his place.
"I've always felt like that, every time I look at the squad to see if my name is even on there,'' he said. "I've trained like every training session is my last. I just feel that's how I get the best out of myself, never take anything for granted.'