First Hampden trip vindicates move back to Scotland for Hearts keeper Jon McLaughlin

The prospect of a first trip to Hampden proves it was a good decision to move to Scotland, says goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin.

The Hearts stopper was awarded his first international call-up earlier this week when Alex McLeish named him in his squad to face Costa Rica and Hungary.

Such has been McLaughlin's impact at Tynecastle this season that he admits it was no real surprise, but revealed he has never even been to Hampden before after moving to England.

Following a less-than traditional route into football - which included earning a sports science and coaching degree from Leeds University - the keeper spent time at Harrogate, Bradford and Burton before moving back to Edinburgh, but had never given up hope of a call-up to the national side.

No never been to Hampden,'' he revealed.This will be my first experience of Hampden.

I was hoping we might have the chance to have two cracks but with the cup going, this will be my first opportunity to experience it, so it will be great and it's an international game I'll be involved in.''

On his previous international prospects, he added: It's always something you hope is a possibility.

As a footballer you have to have belief in yourself, especially as a goalkeeper, and confident in your abilities, but when you're someone who has got to their 30s and has never been involved in national set-ups or anything like that, it's not something you focus too much on.

If you do the business there then these kind of things can come from it. Luckily for myself it's been a great decision to come up here and it's been the right move for me.''

Despite leaving Edinburgh before his first birthday, McLaughlin and his family remain staunch Tartan Army supporters and he is relishing the chance to be involved.

I've never been able to go to any games,'' he admitted.I moved down south and once involved in football yourself down there, I never had the opportunity but I always followed them and watched the games on the telly with dad.

We always followed as keen Scotland supporters and it's just brilliant to think that I will be able to not just be at a game myself, but be involved with the squad at a match.'