Ryan Porteous insists he has taken ownership of his Scotland absence during recent seasons, after earning a recall for November’s camp under new head coach, Sebastian Pocognoli.

The centre-back who made his way through the Hibs academy and became a first team star before joining Watford is now with MLS side LAFC. He was a regular starter under former national team boss Steve Clarke throughout the qualifying campaign for Euro 2024 but a sending off in the opening match of that tournament versus Germany proved costly.

His only appearance in navy since was as a late substitute during Nations League action versus Greece early last year. An injury to Stephen Welsh has opened the door for him ahead of fixtures against North Macedonia and Switzerland this month but the Hibs favourite insists he holds no ill will towards Clarke, instead leaning on a Roy Keane message.

Why was Ryan Porteous out the Scotland team?

“It’s frustrating at times, but ultimately if you’re not in a squad at the age I’m at, you need to look at yourself,” said Porteous. “I remember Roy Keane said that about an England player on a podcast I saw on social media and I felt a connection with that. I looked at myself and focused on what I could control, my performances and my consistency, and I feel I’m in a good place.”

Porteous won 13 caps under Clarke but dismissed any notion that he needed a change of manager in order to earn a recall. “No, I had very good conversations with the old manager,” he stressed. “He was brilliant for me in his time, giving me lots of opportunities and, even when I wasn’t in the squad, I was still having good chats with him.

“After he left his position (in June), again, we had a good conversation too. He was eager for me to get back in the squad as well, so that was always good to hear.”

Porteous made his Scotland debut in a Nations League match against Ukraine in September 2022 and swiftly become a first choice in Clarke’s defence throughout the memorable surge towards the last Euros.

Ryan Porteous on facing Lionel Messi

“That was a real highlight of my career,” he said. “We were in a really good place, we were winning big games on a consistent basis. I’m just glad to be back in a position where I can hopefully show that again. I’ve always had that fire in me to get back for the national team.”

Porteous joined LA in early 2025 and joked that he is probably the first person from his hometown Dalkeith, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, to make such a move. Porteous helped his side enjoy a 3-0 win over Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami in February and feels his game is in good order.

“It’s some place,” he said. “It’s good, I stay in Pasadena, so a little bit outside the temptation zone, as I call it! I’ve probably just had one of my most consistent seasons over the last three or four years and I’m really enjoying it. I don’t know if I enjoyed being up against Messi. That was one where you could never settle, but it was a good night for us.”