Hanley’s been doing it for a while now. Before Scotland’s double-header against Croatia and Portugal in mid-October, he had played two minutes of club football – against Derby in a 3-2 defeat – in the previous six weeks.
He played 90 against Croatia in a 2-1 loss and another 90 against Portugal in 0-0 draw. That was Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo, Diogo Jota, Bruno Fernandes and Francesco Conceicao. None of that lot could expose him.
Then it was back to the wilderness. His preparation for the November double-header against Poland and Croatia was 15 minutes in a 2-1 defeat by Cardiff – the only football he had played in a month.
Scotland beat Croatia 1-0 and Poland 2-1. Hanley played every minute; big and bold and as hungry as hell.
Hanley is 33 years old and with his travails in club football he has every reason to believe that his time is running out.
But he clearly doesn’t believe it. He’s staying in the fight. He’s basking in the battle.
Clarke loves players who have strength and persistence, players who have endured set-backs but refuse to buckle, players who are written off but always come again.
No wonder he keeps faith with Hanley, despite the lack of football in his legs.
He’s nobody’s idea of the perfect centre-back. He won’t take it out of defence and spray passes. He won’t amaze a single soul with his technical excellence. There’s a mistake or two in him.
But in the business of bottle, he’s up there. In terms of mental fortitude, he takes a bit of beating.
He might have been inches away from giving away that penalty late in the game on Thursday, but the great survivor, survived. And there was justice in that.
