Scotland stopper says MLS move vindicated by 'very big' Pocognoli call amid 'won't give that up' declaration

Gunn, 30, had solidified himself as former head coach Steve Clarke’s number one goalkeeper over the last couple of months, playing all three of Scotland’s games at the World Cup this summer. However, his inclusion didn’t come without scrutiny, with the stopper not playing regular first-team football with Nottingham Forest at the time.

Forced to warm the bench at the City Ground, the goalkeeper admits he knew the situation couldn’t continue if he wanted to retain his Scotland place. However, many were surprised when Gunn decided to up sticks and sign for San Jose Earthquakes in July. However, he feels Pocognoli’s decision to continue with him between the sticks is evidence that he made the right choice.

Sign up to The Scotsman’s daily football newsletter to get unrivalled Scottish football news and analysis - subscribe for free here.

“I was in talks with them for quite a while, to be honest,” said Gunn. “I went into Forest at the start of last season and they ended up signing another keeper, so it pushed me back a little bit. I was trying to get out in January to get some more games before the tournament, but that never materialised and conversations kept going from there. It’s a very good club, a good manager, and they wanted me. That was a big thing for me — to be wanted and get more game time in.

“I really enjoyed it over there in the summer with the World Cup and was more than happy to stay and try something different. I think for any player, playing for your country is the biggest achievement. Certainly, in the World Cup in the summer, that was the stuff of dreams. I wasn't ready to give that up easily. Playing regular football is very important to carry that on. It was important and I love coming here.

“It has been a good week with the new manager. The vibe around the group is really positive. It’s very big for me [being picked by Pocognoli]. That's why it was important for me to get playing regularly. I went straight in there and the season was up and running very quickly. Since the World Cup, I've got quite a lot of games in. That was important and it gave me a big boost when I came into the camp and had a conversation with him. I think he's given that to a lot of the players here, a lot of confidence and freedom.”

While Gunn is delighted to be back playing regularly, he admits the adjustment hasn’t been easy. Moving his family thousands of miles away from their home, his father - and former Scotland international - Bryan, is also now a 10-hour flight away, but he hopes to visit Northern California in the coming weeks.

“That's probably the hardest bit, to be fair,” admitted Gunn. “Football takes care of itself, and I've been doing it all my life, so that's pretty normal to me. For me and my family, trying to settle over there has been tough, but we've stuck together. My wife's been amazing and the kids have got into schools quickly over there. It's going to take a bit of time to settle down, but that's the beauty of signing a longer-term contract, to get settled and try and focus on my football.

“There were a few other lads in a similar position to me in the summer, looking for a new club on a free. Everyone was speaking to each other, and it was a good opportunity for me. I was keen to try something new. Personally, I've not ever moved outside of the UK, so even when you're dotted around the country, you're still quite close to family and seeing people and just that kind of support network for me and my wife. But like I said, football has been pretty easy. We're going into the crunch end of the season now as well, so quite exciting times ahead on the pitch.

“There's a few familiar faces out there. Ian Harke's in my team as well, he used to play over here with Dundee United. A few familiar faces and there's good quality in the league. A lot of the big stars are attacking players, so I've got to try and keep them out.

“It’s a 10-hour flight back over there, so it's not like we can just pop over and see each other. With the time difference as well, it's quite tough to get in contact with each other. My Dad is coming over soon to America, so he'll have a good time over there. It's something new and we're just adjusting to it as time goes on. He's excited for me to get back playing regular football. Being able to come back and see him and all the family when we have these games is really nice as well.”