Steven Naismith insists Andy Robertson won’t have any Champions League hangover – because leading Scotland to the World Cup would be just as big an achievement.
The national team coach isn’t worried about the skipper being down in the dumps after Liverpool were edged out by Real Madrid in Paris on Saturday night.
Naismith knows Robertson will report for Scotland service this morning and hit the rest button to get his head in the game for Wednesday’s play-off showdown against Ukraine.
The Anfield star will dust himself down and look for the next challenge – because that’s what big time players like Robbo do.
Naismith said: “I think he will be fine. He will have the disappointment because I’ve been there myself when you’ve been to cup finals. But it happens every year with the League Cup and the Scottish Cup finals in Scotland. You could argue John Souttar has been in a similar situation (after losing Scottish Cup Final with Hearts).
“As much as you have the disappointment, football is 24/7, all year round.
“As he drops into the squad here the dynamics change and the surroundings change and the focus just leads straight on to the next game.
“That’s top level football now. So from that point of view there won’t be an issue with Robbo, without a shadow of a doubt.
“Now the focus is on another massive game and the rewards for that as are big as anything else because you have the chance to go to a World Cup.
“The experience Robbo has had over the last six, seven, eight years has built him up to be in that elite category that he understands how it works. So I don’t think it will be an issue for him.”
Robertson is usually the man who motivates the squad, the guy who supports and cajoles his teammates, the man who fires the rocket up the backside or gives the arm around the shoulder.
It could be the turn of others in the group to offer the captain a shoulder but Naismith doesn’t think it will be needed.
The squad have bene arriving in dribs and drabs over the last few days but there’s a coming feeling in the camp.
It doesn’t matter if they are pitching up on the back of a league or cup win or loss, a relegation battle or a promotion scrap.
Everything is now about Scotland and getting to the promised land of a World Cup.
The players will be there for Robertson if need be but Naismith said: “It is. But first of all I would that applies to the whole squad. The way the squad has been – two weeks ago, last week, this week – everyone is doing all they can. “The June calendar is always the one that’s got the most variations in it because everyone stops at different times and all the rest of it.
“But it shows the character they all have that as soon as they finish their season they are not thinking ‘oh I’ll get a wee break before we go away’. When I first came into the squad that was the thought process.
“Everyone is dedicated. Everyone has had the feeling of going to the Euros through the play-offs so the dedication is there.
“But on top of that for Robbo, he is the leader. He is the captain. He is one of the faces of this group who has managed to get us to a major tournament and he has continued with that. And what he does at club level, he is a natural leader.
“And on top of that, when he is acting the way he is and consistently being here and wanting to play, he’s a great guy for everybody to look up to.”
Robertson will be ready to lead the side out at Hampden and Naismith knows this Scotland side will need to be firing to overcome an Ukraine side arriving amid the war with Russia at home.
There’s plenty of respect for their opponents and a ton of sympathy.
But there’s also a sense the football is now at the forefront and Naismith doesn’t buy any suggestions it will be Ukraine with more drive at Hampden because of brutal backdrop.
The former Rangers and Hearts ace said: “I wouldn’t say so, and that’s me just seeing the players.
“Especially from the moment we qualified for the Euros I would say there’s a real drive with the group.
“They are all saying it was one of the best feelings they had in their whole footballing career.
“And it was only a short period of time ago, so it’s still fresh.
“That’s what’s dangling at the end of these games.
“So I wouldn’t say the motivation is any less for us, not at all.
“And that comes from the success we have had in the Euro campaign and also the squad being so competitive.”
Ukraine might have a hint of the unknown given their uncertainty of recent months but there’s one thing Naismith can bank on.
Hampden will be rocking.
He said: “On the whole we have an idea of how we think they’ll play, what their threats are, things we’ll need to look out for in terms of stopping them, making a stamp on the game.
“And on top of that there’s what we want to do, a lot of it will be down to us and how we want to play.
“We have got to use the fans, the anticipation for this game has probably dragged on from that time in March and it is finally coming.
“So I would expect the atmosphere to be electric, there will be a lot of hope, a lot of confidence from everyone backing us.
“Then the players will feel that, they’ll want to be involved in it, and the work we are doing is what we believe is needed to get the win.”
