I'VE LOVED BEING PART OF ZAGREB SPORRAN LEGION

BAGPIPES, whisky and an honorary membership of the Croatian Tartan Army were not what Scott McKenna expected when he arrived at Dinamo Zagreb.

- BY FRASER WILSON

But that's exactly what met the big defender when he checked in for one of his first days at the Maksimir Stadium.

It could hardly have been more stereotyped if a giant kilted haggis appeared with a tin of shortbread singing The Proclaimers.

But McKenna loved it.

He might be the first Scot to ever play in Croatia but the former Aberdeen defender has already found a home from home in the Croatian capital.

Four wins and four clean sheets in his first four outings have made the move as smooth as he could have wished.

Not to mention that welcome from the local Tartan Army.

The last 18 months have been quite a journey for the 28-year-old who's arrived in Croatia after a year in the Canaries with Las Palmas which followed a five-month loan in Copenhagen from Nottingham Forest. Now it's back to the Parken Stadium in the Danish capital for international duty and a truncated World Cup campaign starting with a tough test against Denmark.

But McKenna is in good spirits - and not just because of that bottle of Scotch.

He said: "Yeah, it was a bit of a surprise turning up to training and folk in kilts being there with one guy playing the bagpipes!

"That was quite something but I have had a very good welcome in general and that topped it off.

"I got a message from the press officer at the club saying 'can you come in a little bit earlier tomorrow because the Scottish regiment of the Croatian Tartan Army want to do a presentation to you.