Ben Gannon-Doak: Scotland teammate hammered me for goal-kick celebration - and why I was needing hooked

What isn’t generally regarded as his forte is defending. So it was definitely worth jotting down in the notebook when he successfully won a goal-kick for his team with some sterling shielding work shortly after half time in Saturday night's 1-0 win over Haiti.

Little wonder the 20-year-old let out a roar and clenched his fists, like he’d just scored the game’s winning goal. The result? A ticking off from John McGinn, who actually had already scored what proved to be the match winner.

Gannon-Doak was always going to be asked about this moment when it was his turn to face reporters at the Scotland training camp in Charlotte on Monday. There was a flash of slight embarrassment at the memory, a ‘did I really do that?’ vibe. “I think I just buzzing about being able to be decent at defending for a change!” he explained. “Obviously, (there was) a bit of adrenaline...”

Like those who refuse to celebrate scoring goals against clubs they might have been at for five minutes years earlier, this newish phenomenon where players celebrate making tackles or last-ditch defensive blocks is often cited as an example of why football has gone to the dogs.

Many dismiss it as performative nonsense, including one of Gannon-Doak’s own teammates. It might not surprise too many people who the player in question is since he’s the one who most obviously espouses ‘old school’ qualities. He jokingly registered his displeasure with the winger.

“McGinn hammered me for celebrating winning a goal kick so I don't want to talk too much about that!” said Gannon-Doak. “I think that's just what playing in a Scotland shirt does to you. I really enjoyed it."

He was easily forgiven after a performance where he excelled at both ends of the pitch. Although manager Steve Clarke was slightly cool about Gannon-Doak’s contribution, there was no doubt about the work he put in.

It was effective, too, with the player having a hand in the winner and also troubling the Haiti defence on numerous occasions. There was mass panic in the stands when he sank to the turf with around 20 minutes left. Clarke quickly replaced the winger with Ryan Christie. The player himself has now eased fears of a recurrence of the hamstring injury sustained in the qualifying win over Denmark at Hampden, which robbed him of so much of last season.

“I was needing hooked,” he said. “Both my calves decided to leave the stadium before me! They cramped up a bit so I was more than happy to make way and get my backside on that chair. I wasn't surprised (to be replaced) at all.”

The question now is whether Gannon-Doak starts on Friday against Morocco, in the game that will likely define Scotland's tournament. Some predict Clarke might resort to a more defensive lineup, meaning Gannon-Doak could be a potential victim of a system change. “Listen I am not bothered if I start or if I am on the bench,” he said. “I just want Scotland to win. If the gaffer thinks the best way to do that is for me to have an impact off the bench, then that's what I need to prepare to do.

“But it is the gaffer's decision. Honestly, I don't really care if I play or not. Obviously I would love to play, I love playing football. I just want to see Scotland win."