Hibees trio Hanley, Bowie and Mulligan realise it’s down to them to prove to boss Clarke theyre worth World Cup call

THE closest | ever got toa World Cup was wishing Ulises de la Cruz good luck before he headed away to Korea and Japan in 2002.

- TAM McMANUS

I never saw the Ecuadorian again.

Appearing on the greatest stage of all for his country - even though they got pumped out in the first round - was enough to win wee Ulises a megabucks move to Aston Villa the moment his backside arrived back in Scotland.

He played his last game for Hibs at Kilmarnock and, three months later, he was starting the next season against Steven Gerrard and Liverpool in the English Premier League.

That's the magic of the World Cup. It's the biggest platform on planet football.

‘And every Scottish player worth their salt should be dreaming about that right now.

IfIwas playingIdbe thinking: ‘Have a good season andI could be on the plane to America’.

The closest I got to a full cap was two ‘Scotland Futures’ run-outs under Berti Vosts.

It felt like I was the only Scottish player NOT to get a top-team run-out under wee Berti!

But, seriously, that's got to be the mindset for Scottish players after Steve Clarke's troops did the business on Tuesday and ended the near three-decade wait fora World Cup finals spot.

There's three at Hibs who really should be turning the dial in the next few months to realise their American dream.

Id say Grant Hanley's a stonewall certainty. Hes been a great servant for his country.

Kieran Bowie's been in the squad and Josh Mulligan was called up to the Scotland party ahead of facing Belarus.