SCOTLAND’S final Euro 2016 qualifying double header against Poland and Gibraltar will not, despite the emphatic 6-0 victory over the latter in a meaningless fixture on Sunday evening, be looked back on with particular fondness by those involved.

The 2-2 draw with Poland at Hampden last Thursday night killed the national team’s hopes of ending a prolonged absence from the finals of a major tournament and progressing to France next summer.

The way that Gordon Strachan’s side was denied victory – Robert Lewandowski bundled the ball over the line from a yard out in the fourth minute of injury-time – just made the outcome all the more unbearable.

Yet, one member of the Scotland set-up will, once the pain of the failure finally subsides, remember the last two Group D fixtures in a positive light after he finally came of age as an international footballer.

Matt Ritchie, the Bournemouth winger who qualifies to play for this country due to his father hailing from Edinburgh, had not impressed greatly in his five appearances for his adopted homeland prior to last week.

Sure, Ritchie set up Christophe Berra for the winning goal on his debut in a 1-0 friendly win against Northern Ireland at Hampden back in March. He also scored in a 1-0 triumph over Qatar at Easter Road in an international challenge match in June.

But his showings in competitive matches had not, by his own admission, been especially encouraging. He was substituted at half-time on his first start against Gibraltar at Hampden in March and suffered the same ignominy against the Republic of Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in June. He could have no complaints about his treatment on either occasion.

It is fair to say that many members of the Tartan Army were, despite the 26-year-old’s fine form for his club in the English Championship last season and Premier League this term, starting to question what on earth the manager saw in him.

They found out against Poland last week. Ritchie capped an industrious display with a spectacular long-range equaliser just before half-time. He also showed up well, admittedly against extremely limited part-time opposition, at the weekend and delivered some penetrating deliveries into dangerous areas.

The Gosport-born player acknowledged that he had taken his time to settle since being called up by Gordon Strachan earlier this year - and praised the manager for remaining patient with keeping faith with him.

He is looking forward to playing an increasingly influential role when Scotland get their bid to qualify for the World Cup in Russia in 2018 up and running next year.

“It was a daunting prospect getting called up at first but it’s been a great experience,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed it. You have to learn quickly. The manager has played a big part in helping me do that.

“It’s been fantastic for me to be involved and become part of things here. There’s been disappointments with the way things have turned out, but I’ve really enjoyed these last few months as an international player. I’ll go and reflect on things and hopefully be back to go again in the next campaign.

"The more I’ve been part of it the more I feel I have come on. I’ve learned how certain players play and have formed relationships on the park. The goal against Poland was special, it was just disappointing with what happened at the end. It’s been great so far and, like everyone, the next step would be to keep my place and kick on.”

Ritchie added: "It was nice to finish on a more positive note against Gibraltar. We were professional and put on a good performance.

“To see 10,000 or so go out for a game at the end of the group and hear them singing all night, and then again at the end, showed they appreciated the effort we put in. It was brilliant.

“We were really unlucky in the end but I think they know the effort we put in and the way we conducted ourselves at the end. We had a real go. You look at the support we had out there. They understand you can’t always win every game.”

Unsurprisingly given the support he has received from him, Ritchie is hopeful that Strachan, whose contract as manager is set to expire, agrees to remain in charge and oversee Group F games against England, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania and Malta in the future.

“The lads all really want him to stay,” he said. “I hope the people who made the decisions can arrange it.

“I’m sure that response at the end won’t have gone unnoticed by the manager. He’s got everyone behind him so hopefully he’ll be here for the next campaign.”