Scotland star Jamie Mackie swapped QPR for Nottingham Forest in bid to get back in Gordon Strachan's squad 5 Sep 2013 00:01 AFTER agreeing a three-year deal with Forest, Mackie, 27, secured a return to Gordon Strachan's side for Scotland's latest World Cup double-header. Jamie is delighted with his Scotland recall - and he puts it down to his move to Forest Jamie is delighted with his Scotland recall - and he puts it down to his move to Forest SNS Group SCOTLANDâS forgotten man. Itâs hardly the kindest of descriptions but Jamie Mackie takes not the slightest offence over it. How could he complain about being forgotten by his country at a time when his own club barely remembered he existed? Thatâs been the way of things for most of Mackieâs 2013. And itâs why this softly-spoken Surrey lad has suddenly returned to the international fold with a spring in his step. Mackie is through the worst of it now. A summer switch from QPR to Nottingham Forest may have spiked his Premiership ambitions for the time being but, more importantly, this liberating £1million transfer has ended the torment that was threatening to engulf him during his final few months at Loftus Road. From November 2012, when Harry Redknapp first walked into a chaotic and ultimately ill-fated struggle to avoid relegation, Mackie was caught in the middle of a maelstrom. All around him, bigger names with far fatter wage packets came and went in a constant, dizzying flurry of activity. But Mackie sat and watched from the sidelines as, slowly but surely, his club continued to sink itself. His Scotland place disappeared without a trace too. Having been called up for Gordon Strachanâs very first squad to face Estonia at Pittodrie in February, Mackie has not been seen in dark blue since. With each snub he felt his own aspirations slip deeper under the surface. And so, aged 27, Mackie realised the time had come for him to take matters into his own hands. A three-year deal with Forest was agreed. And now, with a return to Strachanâs group for this latest World Cup double-header, his recovery is in full flow. Mackie might be back in a familiar place but heâs a changed man. He said: âI am delighted to be back. I have to be honest, there was a real concern that I was falling out of the picture completely. I wasnât playing enough at club level, for whatever reason, so I could understand why I wasnât involved in any of the Scotland squads. âQPR were obviously bringing in a lot of players, so it was hard for me to play every week. And when youâre not playing for the national side â under a new manager â you do worry things might have changed. âHowever, I worked hard, got my move and now things are looking up again. Scotland was a big part of my thinking behind the move to Forest. I wanted to be playing every week at club level and I knew Iâd get the opportunity at Forest. âI wanted to show Gordon Strachan I was playing to that Iâd be noticed again.â Job done. Mackie netted his first goal for his new club against Bolton on August 17 â just four days after being left out of Scotlandâs plans for a friendly with England.What he did not know at that time, however, was that veteran striker Kenny Miller was on the verge of hanging up his No.9 shirt. And that decision has changed everything. Having marvelled at Millerâs Wembley performance, Mackie now has the chance to prove he is the ready-made replacement for this specialised, lone striker role. The irony is not lost on him. He said: âThese things happen in football, things have a habit of changing very quickly. When they do, you have to try to make the most of them. âI never once moaned about my situation at QPR even though it was frustrating to see other players get a chance ahead of me. I felt they were maybe playing on the back of reputations. âIt was obviously disappointing but I kept my head down and worked hard. I just needed to find myself a club where I could play every week and show that I was still a good player. âBut football goes round in circles and now itâs turned all the way back for me. âIâve got an opportunity now to stay in the squad. Thatâs what I want to do and hopefully it works out that way for me. âAll the time Iâve watched the Scotland games and spoken to the boys. Iâve been delighted for everyone how well things have gone recently. Itâs been brilliant. âI must admit, I was greatly surprised by Kennyâs decision to retire after the England game. I hadnât spoken to him, so I didnât know of his thought process. âTo see him score a fantastic goal at Wembley and play so well overall and know how brilliantly he has done throughout his career for the national team, I was stunned when the news broke while I was in the dressing room at Forest. âIt was a complete shock. To me it had just seemed that Kenny was going along very well and as fit as ever.â Mackie doesnât just want to be selected for Scotland squads. Nor will he be satisfied simply with a starting place in the team. Of course, he says, heâll play anywhere for Scotland, as was proved when Craig Levein gave him a debut at right-back, outside another right-back, on that awful night when strikers played as defenders in Prague. Deep down, though, Mackie sees himself very much in Millerâs mould and he is striving now to nail down that position as Scotlandâs first choice centre-forward. He said: âI definitely think I can play up front on my own. Iâve got a lot of energy in my game, I can make runs in behind, I can come and hold the ball up. âItâs a position where you can be frustrated because of long periods without possession, especially against top sides. âBut Iâve had that in the Premier League the last couple of years. So I think I have the qualities to play for Scotland up front on my own. I feel that Iâm at my best up front. âHopefully if I do get the opportunity, the fans will see the best of me.â
So, if I read this correctly, getting back into the Scotland set-up was as much to do with Kenny Miller deciding to call it quits as moving to the Florists. Whatever. Good luck to him.
QPR favourite for ever but he would not get regular games at QPR in Harry's new team. Sincerely wish Jamie well and I am sure he will get a massive welcome when he comes back to LR.
Jamie as lone striker for Scotland ? I wish him well, but thats a thankless task and not one he is particularly well suited for.
Good luck to him, Always gave his all and deserves another chance. Not gonna get a game for us but if he gets back in his national team its purely through hard graft. got to say well done
Every team needs a Mackie he brings so much to the table and unfortunately some fans can't see it as he is not technically perfect but has a heart the size of a lion. Good luck to him and watch him grow this season.
Gary O'Neil. But I completely disagree with Flanners that "unfortunately some fans can't see it as he is not technically perfect but has a heart the size of a lion." The sad fact of the matter was, he just wasn't very good. Sure he had a few good games with key moments. Over the course of a season - far from consistent and easily replaceable.
I've been referring to Johnson as an upgrade on Mackie. Same energy levels, chases all game long but clearly a better player.
