YOU might imagine that going from playing in front of 60,000 fevered Mexican supporters in the Azteca for your country to being edged out on penalties by Stranraer at Stair Park would be quite the comedown.

For Chris Cadden though, the feel-good factor from his summer trip away with Scotland has yet to subside.

The 21-year-old is still on a high after winning his maiden caps for his country against Peru and Mexico, describing the experience as the highlight of a career that has already seen him play in two cup finals at club level.

‘Mental’ was the simple way he welcomed his call-up from Alex McLeish on his Twitter page, and the reality more than lived up to his expectations. He admits it was an emotional moment when he spoke to his family after his international bow as a late substitute against Peru, even if he wasn’t exactly in the thick of the action.

“I loved every minute of being away with Scotland,” Cadden said. “I tried to cherish it and take in every experience and everything that happened.

“It was the best and proudest moment of my career, pulling on the Scotland jersey.

“After the Peru game I was sitting in the changing room. I hadn’t touched the ball - I never gave it away like, but I never got a touch – but I remember sitting there and getting emotional.

“That’s what I was always brought up on, that Scotland was the pinnacle of your career, and managing to do that was incredible. It was a dream come true really.

“I phoned my mum and dad and that was brilliant. They were ecstatic when I got the call-up, then they both stayed up with my brother [Nicky] to watch.

“I phoned them straight after it and they were all delighted. It was a bit emotional, but it was brilliant.

“I loved it and now I want to strive to get more. All the work that has gone into it, it was all worth it in the end.”

The Scotland jerseys will be framed for posterity, but Cadden hopes he did enough while away to ensure they won’t be the last to go up on the wall.

“That’s not up to me to decide,” he said. “I tried my best and every day in training I worked hard and tried to make an impact.

“It’s up to the gaffer, Faddy [James McFadden], Peter Grant or whoever to decide, but I tried my best, and hopefully I did make an impact.

“I was a bit nervous in the first training session, but you were there for a reason, and I just tried to do whatever I could and try my best every day.

“That’s all I could do. I tried not to get intimidated, and just went out and did what I do.

“Hopefully it went well.”

The brief respite over the summer didn’t bother Cadden, who was happy to get two weeks in Cancun and then get right back into the thick of competitive action.

“I didn’t have a big break or anything, but I don’t mind that,” he said. “I’d take that for Motherwell any summer, a cup final and then an international experience.

“We have a big game on Tuesday now, and that’s what you want, big games with big rewards.”