GOUROCK footballer Greg Taylor has told of his pride after receiving his first Scotland call-up this week.

The Kilmarnock ace, 21, was one of 27 players selected, alongside fellow Gourock-native Lewis Morgan, in Steve Clarke’s first squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers.

Scotland take on Cyprus at Hampden Park on Saturday June 8, before playing Belgium away the following  Tuesday.

It’s a long journey since playing football with his brother Ally in Gourock, or watching Scotland as a kid in the Darroch Bar when James McFadden secured a famous win against France in 2007.

While he’s played with the Scotland youth teams and even captained them last year, Taylor says nothing will compare to pulling on the national top for the senior team.

It was a great moment for his family as well, with mum Fiona and dad Hugh following their son home and away for Killie throughout his professional career.

They might be racking up a few air miles in the future, as the former Clydeview Academy pupil is determined to grasp his opportunity.

He told the Tele: “I heard murmurs there was a chance I might get called up, and I was just buzzing when I found out.

“It was relief as well. I had built myself up thinking I would have a chance, I think I would have been gutted had I not, but once I had seen it I was ecstatic.

“It’s what you dream of as a kid, to play for the national team, so it’s a massive honour.

“My family were over the moon, they follow me across the country and my girlfriend as well, she’s getting the holiday cut a bit short but it’s been good.

“But this is only a step on the ladder. I can’t rest on my laurels and I’ve not even played yet, I’ve done nothing yet.

“It makes you realise the sacrifices you make throughout your younger days, and certainly your school days, it shows it was worth it.”

It will be a tough task to break into the team, especially with the talent Scotland are blessed with at left-back.

Celtic’s Kieran Tierney has been ruled out of the two upcoming qualifiers because he has undergone surgery on an injury, opening the door for Taylor.

Captain Andy Robertson, who plays for Liverpool in the Champions League final on Saturday, will be back for the game, and Taylor is under no impression it will be an easy task to get his first cap.

He added: “I’m not delusional in the fact of my place in the squad. If Andy is fully fit he’s the number one, he’s the captain and he’s at the top of the game and I understand that.

“But if I even get a few minutes at the end of the game it would mean the world to me.

“I think you can safely say it’s the hardest place to break into with Kieran and Andy both there, they’re both fantastic players and both at the very top of their games.

“But you can’t go into anything without a little bit of hope and dreams that you can eventually get there. 

“It’s unfortunate that Kieran’s pulled out with injury but if it means I can get my chance then hopefully I’ll take it.”