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Scotland international on target in crucial Champions League qualifier amid Rangers transfer link Defender scores maiden Champions League goal in rout Scotland defender Scott McKenna has taken a major step towards playing in the Champions League proper after scoring in a crucial qualifier for Dinamo Zagreb. The 29-year-old, who has been the subject of transfer speculation linking him with Rangers this summer, is no stranger to the Champions League having featured for Copenhagen in a round of 16 tie against Manchester City while on loan at the Danish club from Nottingham Forest in 2024. McKenna's current side entered this season's Champions League in the second qualifying round last month after he helped them win the Croatian title in his first season at the club. The former Aberdeen centre-back started both legs as Zagreb recovered from two goals down to secure a nervy 4-3 aggregate win over Swiss side Thun to set up a third quaifying round tie against Kauno Žalgiris of Lithuania. McKenna was back in the Zagreb starting line-up for the first leg of that fixture in the Croatian capital on Tuesday night and got himself on the scoresheet in a resounding 5-0 victory for the hosts that has put them firmly in the driving seat for a place in the play-off round, where Norwegian outfit Viking lie in wait. The Kirriemuir native grabbed his maiden Champions League goal in the 33rd minute, converting a cross from Matteo Perez Vinlof from close range to make it 2-0. He also helped his side keep a clean sheet at the back, with Miha Zajc, Mateo Lisica, Luka Stojkovic and Lukas Kacavenda also on target for Zagreb ahead of the return leg in Lithuania next week. McKenna, whose blunder cost Scotland the opening goal in the 3-0 defeat by Brazil at the World Cup, was the subject of a loan enquiry from Rangers earlier in the transfer window but the deal did not progress. The 51-times capped defender is under contract at the Croatian side until the summer of 2029. Comments Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.