Michael Devlin this week sat down and spoke to RedTV ahead of a couple of massive games. He started though by reflecting on his Scotland call up at the weekend.

“It was a bit of a surprise when I got the call.

“You are hoping at some point that you get the opportunity, but I was not expecting it at all. Shocked but delighted to be given the chance to join up with the squad.

“I did not get any game time, but a bit of perspective is needed in terms of where I have been at over the past 12 to 18 months. Been given the opportunity to go and get a bit of experience and train and be around the squad was brilliant. It is good to see how they operate at that level and it gives you a real incentive to try and get some more of it and be involved again.

“The idea of joining up with Scotland for the first time is a bit daunting, but on this occasion there were a lot of familiar faces and a familiar feel which was nice. It helps you settle in very quickly. As well as Graeme, Scott and Gary you also had Ryan Christie and I am good friends with Stephen O’Donnell. He was waiting at the door to welcome me when I arrived!

“I have never played at Hampden before. So that was another positive for being involved with the squad. It allowed me to be a bit more familiar with the surroundings. We trained there on the Saturday and then we had the game on the Sunday. Being involved on a game day at Hampden was good with the semi-final next week in mind.”

Before next Sunday’s showdown at the national stadium, the Dons have an equally tough test away to league leaders Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday.

“There is total belief in what we are trying to do. If you look at our results over the season, we have had two defeats, against Kilmarnock when we played for 86 minutes with ten men and away to Celtic when we could have got something from the game.

“There have also been a couple of draws that we would not have wanted, but I think over the piece we are not a million miles away. We know there are aspects we need to fix and improve on, but we are working very very hard to try and rectify that as soon as possible.

“We have got a few more boys back from injury and now it looks a really good competitive squad. You have more players vying for positions in the starting XI, so there has been a real competitive edge in training this week. There is a real depth to the squad as we still have a couple more to return.

“Since the victory over Hibs in the cup I feel the performance levels have increased.

“We have been getting glimpses, more and more of what we are capable of and the quality that is there. James Wilson for example, when he has come in, he has shown his quality and is a really exciting prospect for us.

“It gives us great believe and confidence going into the big games that are coming up. We will be ready.

“There is a pressure, but it is the type of pressure that you need to thrive on. If you want to be a player who is successful with a big club, you need to thrive in the big games and go and try and win them, that is what is expected here. We are all delighted to be part of that and we are all pushing in the same direction to try and bring some success here.

“All the games this season the fans have been brilliant, especially in the big matches. For example in the Rangers league fixture they really gave us that push that we needed before Bruce got an equaliser. The fans were incredible in the Burnley games, as they were in the Quarter Final against Hibs. They have always been there.

“We have a couple of really exciting games coming up and they are ones we are hugely looking forward to.”

The full interview with Mikey will be available to watch next week as part of our RedTV countdown to the semi-final.