Larry Henry JrStuart Findlay remains linked with a pair of Scottish Premiership clubs, but is playing down the reported interest from his native country.
Scottish clubs Hibernian and Hearts are reportedly interested in acquiring the centerback this January, Football Scotland confirmed Thursday. However, the 26-year-old defender isn’t expecting to move anywhere this winter break before returning to the Philadelphia Union for the start of the 2022 preseason.
“You read newspapers and you see things but I’ve got a very good relationship with my agent and if there’s anything like that going about, I don’t know,” Findlay said in an interview with Football Scotland. “I focus on my football. As far as I’m aware I’m still contracted next season to Philadelphia. If they decide it’s best for me to move on because I’ve not been playing then that’s when I’ll look at things.
“At this moment in time I know I’m happy over there and I’ve not looked elsewhere because, me being a professional, it’s not the way I like to live my career,” Findlay continued.
Findlay made only nine appearances between MLS and Concacaf Champions League play in 2021 with the Union, totaling 486 minutes of action for the 2020 Supporters’ Shield winners. The centerback has watched from the sidelines as Jack Elliott and Jakob Glesnes led the backline this season, before having to start in the Eastern Conference Final after 11 players were unavailable due to COVID-19 protocols.
Findlay has spent most of his career in his native Scotland, totaling 173 appearances between Kilmarnock, Livingston, and Greenock Morton before making the move to the United States. He made his Scottish national team debut in March 2019, but hasn’t been called in since.
Even with the reported interest from Scotland, Findlay is focused on enjoying the holiday break before helping the Union fight for a first-ever MLS Cup in 2022.
“It’s very hard to look ahead when you’ve still got a job to do where you are,” Findlay said. “I feel I’ve still got a point to prove, I feel I’ve not had a chance to show myself in America yet. I’ve showed glimpses of what I can do. I’ve got faith in my ability. I know I can go there and show the form that got me there in the first place when I was playing with Kilmarnock.
“I know that’s what I’m capable of and I think it’s up to me to make sure I get myself into the team,” Findlay said. “But then once I do I need to make sure I show I’m not just over there for a good time, I’m over there to show how good I can play football.”
Findlay is currently third on the Union’s centerback depth chart following Aurelien Collin’s release in the fall.
You can follow Larry Henry on Twitter (@lhenry019) and e-mail him at [email protected].
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