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Norwich City: Bryan Gunn discusses son Angus’ Scotland decision
City’s goalkeeper is preparing to solidify his place as Steve Clarke’s first choice between the sticks in upcoming European qualifiers against Norway and Georgia later this month.
Gunn is following in the footsteps of his father, City legend Bryan, who won six international caps for his country in the 1990s.
He is backing Angus to surpass his total of caps and explained the process that saw the City shot-stopper switch allegiance from England to Scotland.
“I hope he surpasses my total by 10-fold. It’s a great opportunity for him,” Gunn Snr told the Mail. “The previous incumbents in that goalkeeping position all got into high numbers and there’s no reason Angus can’t do the same. And, if you qualify for tournaments, you can make yourself a legend.
“When he said he was going to meet Steve Clarke, I was delighted. Steve and I played our last full international together in the Netherlands in 1994. We also represented Scotland Under-19s at the World Youth Cup in front of 100,000 people at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico. He scored the only goal and I kept a clean sheet. There were connections and I knew it would work.
“Angus got the call from Tony Spearing, who works on the scouting side with Scotland, and then Chris Woods, the goalkeeping coach.
“There was an invitation to come and play at youth level for Scotland previously and then a little bit later when Alex McLeish was back managing the senior side.
“But if you look back at the goalkeepers who were playing for Scotland at that time, you had David Marshall, Allan McGregor and Craig Gordon. There were over 150 caps between them. Angus would have been coming to be back-up.
“There was no guarantee of a game then, whereas, when he was in the England set-up, he played 20-odd times for their Under-21s team, including the first game with Gareth Southgate as manager.
“Then he was called up for the full squad against Brazil in 2018, so he was always in with a shout of being involved with England.
“He was born in England. You have to respect that. Obviously, I did my bit, along with Susan, naming him Angus Fraser James Gunn! We tried right from the start, but I’m glad it was his decision in the end.”
Gunn won the battle with experienced keeper Tim Krul to be Norwich’s number one last season in a year of progress for the 27-year-old.
That elevation at club level coupled with constant cajoling from Scottish colleagues Grant Hanley and Kenny McLean played a key role in helping persuade him to switch allegiance having represented England at youth level.
“I think I pretty much had my mind made up before I met with the manager. It was something that, once I started getting regular game time at Norwich, I started thinking about,” Gunn said.
“Before that, when Tim Krul was in the team and I wasn’t playing, I didn’t feel like I deserved international recognition. Once I started playing regularly in the Championship, that feeling changed. And, even before that meeting took place, I’d decided what I wanted to do. It was already in my head.
“They (Hanley and McLean) know my background and they’ve always joked with me for the last few years, since I’ve known them, about coming to play for Scotland. They were so positive about the squad and how it feels to be part of it now compared to the way it was.
“Grant’s been involved for a long time and he said the whole set-up is so much further forward than it used to be. After hearing stuff like that, it helped make my mind up.’
