FOR Tom Cairney, this was an initiation ceremony as bizarre as a Japanese game show. Just how the midfielder imagined the occasion of his first full international cap remains a matter for conjecture – as a young boy growing up in Nottingham it probably revolved around playing for England in front of a full house at Wembley – but it surely could not have been anything like this. For various reasons both good and bad, this is a night he is unlikely to forget in a hurry.

Surprisingly the only debutant in Gordon Strachan’s side for Scotland’s first friendly in nine months, the 26 year-old with the Scottish dad must have looked around a ghostly quiet Easter Road and wondered just what he had signed up for, the number of empty seats reflecting both a nation’s collective apathy about the state of the team and also their disgruntlement at being asked to pay £22 for a friendly against the 117th best team in the world. Canada, it must be said, did rather better than their lowly ranking may have suggested beforehand.

Tickets were on sale right up until kick-off and those who decided to make a late burst for it at least would not have had to wait in a queue. The official attendance was given as 9150, more than had been initially feared but still some 5000 fewer than watched Berti Vogts’ side take on the same opposition in another midweek game back in 2002.

The attendance on Sunday night – when the team returns to its traditional Hampden home for what is being billed optimistically as a “crucial” World Cup qualifier against Slovenia – will give another indicator of the Tartan Army’s enthusiasm, or otherwise, for following Scotland during their current malaise.

Not even the weather went in the SFA’s favour last night. Just four days shy of the start of British Summer Time and Edinburgh was as warm as the inside of a freezer, with a swirling wind merely adding to the assault on the senses. It seemed verging on child cruelty to have the 22 mascots stand shivering for the pre-match formalities – many in short sleeves – to the incongruous backdrop of ear-splitting fireworks echoing off empty stands. Strachan’s decision not to pitch in any Celtic players or local hero John McGinn from the start probably did not help bolster crowd numbers, although Leigh Griffiths and the Hibs midfielder did both appear from the bench in the second half to notably enthusiastic receptions.

All eyes, then, were on Cairney and the Fulham man did not disappoint on his senior debut. Flitting between a deeper berth beside Darren Fletcher and a more advanced role that took him closer to Steven Naismith, the 26 year-old was one of few Scotland players to enhance their reputation on a night when many toiled.

An early tackle showcased his strength but the highlights were mostly of a more productive nature, with his passing surprisingly crisp on the soggy surface. One dead-eyed delivery down the middle sent Chris Martin clear only for the goalkeeper to save the striker’s shot, while another well-weighted diagonal ball sent Lee Wallace scurrying free to create another chance that was passed up by Oliver Burke. By the end of the first half, however, Cairney had his first international assist as Scotland drew level.

It was not the most orthodox of goals. Wallace’s cross wasn’t properly dealt with by the Canadian goalkeeper and his defence, giving Cairney time to lash in what looked very much like a shot rather than a cross. Naismith did not hesitate regardless, redirecting it over the line from a matter of yards. The Fulham man was less instrumental in the second period but this was an accomplished debut that makes Cairney worth another look.

He was not the only foreign-born player of Scottish parentage to catch the eye. During his time at Rangers, Fraser Aird was repeatedly asked whether it was intention to represent Scotland or Canada were he ever to be capped. Given international football did not seem likely to feature on the Toronto-born forward’s radar any time soon, it felt as futile as asking Spud from Trainspotting whether he would rather go on a date with Katy Perry or Mila Kunis.

And yet, here was Aird having the last laugh. Now with Falkirk, the 22 year-old has thrown his lot in with Canada and was a key figure in their competitive display. It was Aird who put them in front with a low shot, while he was also allowed to run unfettered across the perimeter of the penalty box before pulling a shot just wide. Aird may prove to be Scotland’s loss in the long run but Cairney’s performance was at least one positive on an otherwise unusual and underwhelming night in Leith.