Happy ending as lost medal is returned to McGowan

HE is the player who won a cup-winner's medal.
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Ryan McGowan heads in Hearts' fourth goal. Picture: SNS
Ryan McGowan heads in Hearts' fourth goal. Picture: SNS

And then promptly lost it. Ryan McGowan, the 22- year-old Australian, had a moment of desperation when he reached the dressing-room after scoring a goal in Hearts' 5-1 demolition over Hibernian.

"I lost my medal on the pitch,'' said McGowan of the mayhem that followed the trophy presentation. ''I didn't even know until someone tried to take a photo of me with my medal and I went to hold it up and realised it had come off the ribbon.''

There was a happy ending. ''Fortunately, a steward found it and gave it back to me. Now, I'll need to take it back home this summer because my mum will be dying to see it,'' he said.

His father, Jamie, was given a view of the medal minutes after the game after he had surprised his son by flying in from Adelaide on Saturday morning.

''That was a big bonus for me. It was great to see him, a special moment. My dad was born in Coatbridge but this was the first time he's seen me play in the first team, the first time he's seen me in a final and he also saw me score my first goal.''

The expatriate Scot could have been forgiven for hoping that his son, who has played for the Australian under-23s, will now one day turn out for Scotland. There have been reports linking the defender with Craig Levein's side and McGowan did not rule the possibility.

He said: ''Someone asked me what I would do if Scotland asked me to play for them and I said I'd consider it. That's as much as I can say. My entire international career has been with Australia and I want to play for the Socceroos but if Scotland did come calling then I would think about it.''

He is focused on continuing his education at Tynecastle though he knows that Hearts can be a turbulent place. "You just never know what's going to happen between now and the start of next season,'' he added.

Taken from the Herald