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Barclay out to impress Scotland boss

JohnBarclayWalesSB
John Barclay is itching to make a return to the international fold for Scotland and hopes to impress national selectors when he returns to Murrayfield with his new club on Friday.

John Barclay is itching to make a return to the international fold for Scotland and hopes to impress national selectors when he returns to Murrayfield with his new club on Friday.

The flanker missed this year’s RBS 6 Nations campaign and was then forced to sit out the summer tour to South Africa to undergo surgery on his injured shoulder.

But Barclay, who left the Glasgow Warriors for PRO12 rivals Scarlets in the summer, heads back to his homeland to take on Edinburgh at the national stadium tonight.

And he is hoping an impressive performance will catch the eye of Scotland director of rugby and interim head coach Scott Johnson.

“I had a bad season because I missed the RBS 6 Nations with a hamstring tear and then the summer tour with a shoulder injury,” said the 27-year-old, who has 41 Scotland caps to his name.

“Perhaps you are not forgotten about, but it shows you how quickly someone else can come in and play well.

“It was frustrating because I felt I’d finished the season really well with Glasgow and was in some of my best form, and I wanted to take that on tour and try and push my way back into the Test squad.

“The Scottish management are pretty good at keeping an eye on the guys and I am sure they will be watching the Edinburgh and Glasgow games the Scarlets play.

“I am looking forward to really building up over the next few weeks, helping the Scarlets get back on track and pushing my case with Scotland again.”