McKenna a hit for club and country

HEARTS star Kevin McKenna may be a defender by trade but he has shown a handy knack of finding the back of the net for the Jambos, the former Bundesliga stopper having already netted six times this season for Craig Levein’s side.

And his scoring exploits for the Capital outfit didn’t go unnoticed at international level, Canada coach Holger Osieck handing him an attacking role for the Gold Cup opener against Haiti in Miami on Friday.

And the 21-year-old responded in fine style, netting both goals as his country began the defence of their title with a comfortable 2-0 victory at the city’s Orange Bowl.

"If we don’t make it, then I could be back at Tynecastle later in the week"

A first-half header settled the nerves for the Canadians and McKenna made the game safe shortly after the break when he volleyed home from close range.

It was the first time he had played up front for his country and he relished the occasion.

Now he has Ecuador in his sights as he goes gunning for more goals in an attempt to help the defending champions through to the quarter-finals of the competition.

Speaking exclusively to the Evening News from his Fort Lauderdale training camp, McKenna said: "I think the boss had seen that I had been scoring goals for Hearts and thought it would be a good idea to use me up front against Haiti as we were a bit short of fully-fit players.

"The first one was a header and I managed to get another with a volley early in the second half. The Haitians were terrific athletes, very strong , so it was good to get the first win on the board.

"It’s always great to get on the scoresheet and I was glad the goals gave us an important victory. We now have a crucial game against Ecuador and it would be great to find the back of the net again."

McKenna used his height and presence up front to great effect for Hearts and he insists that experience has helped him to do a similar job for his country.

While he was shunted back and forth by Levein earlier this season to help plug gaps caused by the Tynecastle injury situation, the former Energie Cottbus player has recently been restored to his more familiar centre-half position alongside Steven Pressley.

While he produced a string of solid defensive displays for his club prior to jetting off to Florida, McKenna freely admits he is happy to play anywhere when his country comes calling.

"I like playing at the back for Hearts," said the makeshift striker, who took his international tally to three in eight matches with his double strike in Miami.

"That is my job and that is where I prefer to be. However, as far as Canada is concerned, I will play anywhere for the team.

"Friday was the first time I had been up front. I have been at wing back for them and have, in fact, played just once in the centre of defence for my country. But that doesn’t matter. It is the playing which counts. Scoring goals for Hearts has certainly helped me as far as my confidence is concerned when I’m with Canada and hopefully there are more to come."

The Calgary-born star could find himself on a flight back to Scotland earlier than anticipated if tonight’s result goes against Canada, a scenario which could yet see him in the frame for Saturday’s Tennent’s Scottish Cup fourth-round clash with Inverness Caley Thistle in the Capital. Ecuador received a special invite to the USA tournament and were one of the favourites to go through after qualifying for the World Cup in Japan courtesy of their runners-up place from a tough South American group.

McKenna knows they will be keen to atone for a shock 2-0 defeat to the Haitians at the weekend and is anticipating a tough encounter in the heat and humidity of the Orange Bowl.

"We’ll be giving it our best shot to get through although the group is very tight," he said. "Ecuador are an excellent side and having had about 30,000 fans in the stadium on Friday night all seemingly cheering on Haiti, I’m expecting something similar this evening.

"All three teams can still qualify and if we get through then great, we’re into the quarter-finals which is what we are after. But if we don’t make it, then I could be back at Tynecastle later in the week in time for the important cup tie against Inverness.

"That would mean I’d have missed just the Livingston match and tomorrow’s Celtic game. It was disappointing to hear the guys lost to Livingston as that was a good chance to close on them. But hopefully we can put up a good performance at Parkhead and take things from there."

MEXICO and the United States have advanced to the quarter-finals of the Gold Cup, where they will join fellow World Cup qualifiers Costa Rica.

Mexico advanced after beating Guatemala 3-1 to win Group A, while the United States assured itself of first place in Group B with a 1-0 win over Cuba.

Mexico will face either South Korea or Cuba while the Americans take on El Salvador or Guatemala.

Taken from the Scotsman