Falkirk goalkeeper Scott Bain delivered a man-of-the-match display in a 1-1 draw with Dundee United on Saturday, producing eight saves that may have thrust him back into contention for a place in Scotland's squad under new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli.
With Craig Gordon having retired and fellow World Cup squad members Angus Gunn and Liam Kelly short on regular first-team football, the goalkeeping position looks increasingly open as Pocognoli prepares to name his first squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures. Bain's performance against Dundee United could hardly have been better timed.
Falkirk were under sustained pressure for large parts of the match, facing 27 shots in total, nine of which were on target. Bain was equal to every single one until stoppage time, when Michael Forbes headed home a late equaliser to deny Falkirk what would have been their first league win of the campaign.
Among the standout stops were a low drive from full-back Kevin Ciubotaru that appeared to be heading into the bottom corner before Bain got across to keep it out. He also frustrated Dundee United debutant Lyall Cameron, who could only watch as his effort was denied, while another new signing, Zidane Iqbal, saw a shot arrowed towards the top corner tipped away by the veteran keeper. Neil Farrugia was another player left cursing Bain's reflexes on the day.
Falkirk manager John McGlynn was full of praise for his 34-year-old goalkeeper afterwards, highlighting the qualities that could make him an attractive option for the national team. "I thought he was terrific," McGlynn said. "If you're looking for a goalkeeper who can play from the back and still make saves and bring composure and calmness to your defence, then I think Scott ticks all the boxes. So I have no doubt that the manager will be looking at him."
Dundee United's assistant manager Lee Sharp, whose side were denied victory by Bain's saves, was equally complimentary of the opposition goalkeeper's display. Asked whether Bain had done his international prospects any harm, Sharp replied simply: "Absolutely. He had two or three really good saves in the second half."
The performance arrived just a week after Bain was involved in a mistake during Falkirk's trip to Celtic Park, making his response all the more notable. It also continues a solid record for the goalkeeper since joining Falkirk, where he has now made 44 appearances and kept 10 clean sheets. Prior to that spell, he kept a clean sheet in half of his 78 outings for Celtic, and during an earlier stint at Dundee he recorded 21 clean sheets in 124 games.
Bain earned his first Scotland cap under Alex McLeish against Mexico in June 2018 and went on to win three further caps, the most recent coming in a pre-World Cup friendly against Ivory Coast in March. Despite that involvement, he was not selected for the finals squad.
With uncertainty surrounding the other goalkeeping options available to Pocognoli, Bain's latest display gives him a strong case for inclusion as the new head coach begins to shape his plans for Scotland's Nations League campaign. Based on current form, few would argue against the Falkirk stopper being given another chance on the international stage.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.