Ryan Gauld is feeling weird as Scotland take him to a place that changed his life forever

Portugal.. A mere mention of the country evokes all sorts of emotions for Ryan Gauld.

Not just because it’s the place where he might make his first start for Scotland tonight. Or that it’s where Steve Clarke’s side could pull off a Nations League shock by getting a much-needed result against a Euro big gun. No, Portugal – and its capital city, Lisbon – means far more than that to Gauld.

This place changed his life. It didn’t just mature him as a player but also as a person. He spent seven years here, remember, after securing a massive move from Dundee United to Sporting CP a decade ago. Gauld grew up here, learned a new language and how to live on his own. Lisbon is a long way from Laurencekirk, where he spent his childhood. And in Portugal, he played with and against some of the top players in Europe – some of whom will be in the side that face Scotland this evening.

That’s why it’s special for the Vancouver Whitecaps skipper to come back. And to do it while representing his country, something he thought might never happen, makes it even more poignant.

Gauld got his first cap in Thursday night’s heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Poland at Hampden after coming off the bench. But he’d love to start at the Estadio da Luz tonight for a host of reasons. He said: “It’s a weird feeling coming back to Portugal.

“Did going there change my life? Yeah, and it’s a coincidence that the first time I’m called back into the Scotland squad, I’m going there. It’s a country where I’ve got great memories. It set the path of my career.

“If I could go back and do it all again in Portugal, I would – even though I had ups and downs. Probably more downs than ups – but I still wouldn’t change it. I loved my time there – the people I met and places I