CHE ADAMS has caught the Scotland love bug. It will take more than a virus to stop him making his date with destiny.
The striker initially spurned the advances of his suitors from Hampden before a change of heart 18 months ago. It was the start of a relationship that has seen him already amass 21 caps for the country that he pledged his allegiance to.
Boss Steve Clarke revealed on Monday morning that Adams and fellow forward Lyndon Dykes had been struck down by illness in the national camp as preparations for the all-or-nothing clash with Ukraine were thrown up in the air.
Adams was able to pull on his boots for the final training session before Scotland departed for Krakow. And he downplayed the effects of the disease as he and Dykes get set to discover who will lead the line for the Nations League finale.
Scotland only require a point in Poland to secure promotion and earn a play-off berth for Euro 2024. After the highs of the finals last summer, it would be another achievement to savour for everyone in the squad.
That goes for Adams, too. The Southampton strike has no regrets about pulling on the dark blue jersey and admits the belated decision to answer the call of duty from Hampden has been one of the best that he has made.
“Taking the international experience into club football has been a big bonus for me," Adams said. "There past 18 months I have developed as a player and as a person as well.
“That comes from the gaffer and the belief and faith he puts in me to play for the nation. All I can do is repay him and hopefully get more.
“But yes, I have learned a lot and I feel as if I have grown up a lot from playing international football.
“Pledging myself to Scotland is definitely one of the best decisions of my career.
“I think you can see it from the way I’m playing. I am playing like it’s my last game.
“I will always do my best for the team, put myself out there and that’s the thing that people see now - everyone in the squad is willing to put their body on the line.
“Everyone is pulling in the same direction. And that is what’s massive in football and as a team.
“It’s been so quick. Eighteen months ago I was just starting so to have 21 is a massive achievement.
“I have loved every single minute of it and there’s nothing I would change.”
The decision over who is tasked with operating as the lone striker will be one of the defining ones that Clarke makes ahead of the Ukraine clash.
Adams was given the nod to start against Oleksandr Petrakov's side last week but it was Dykes that had the biggest say in proceedings as he came off the bench and produced two clinical headers.
That was enough to earn him the jersey for the win over the Republic of Ireland and there are pros and cons to both options as Clarke prepares for an unenviable call this evening.
Adams said: “Competition in football is helpful regardless, to keep pushing each other and Lyndon came on and scored two and played exceptionally well. He had the right to start the other day, and he did well as well.
“As a striker then yeah, you need competition. It’s so easy to get complacent and just expect to play whereas now the other players and competition we have in the squad... I don’t think any spot is safe. Everyone is of the same quality and standard to play.
“I feel fresh and ready to go. I’ll see what the manager does.
"It’s another test and I’m looking forward to it. We are all ready for it.”
The challenge of Ukraine will certainly not be underestimated but it is not one that Scotland necessarily have to overcome in Poland.
A draw would be enough to secure top spot in League B1. A side in fine form and high confidence are targeting more than that, though.
Adams said: "We go into every game wanting to win them. That is what the gaffer has installed in us. As players, we know what is acceptable and what is not.
"Going back to the Ireland game, that wasn’t acceptable as a team. The gaffer told us that straight away. It was down to us to dust ourselves off and go again in this camp.
"We have done that to date. We know how many points we need – I think it was seven. So hopefully we can pick up and have over-achieved! Well, not overachieved, so much, but done well.
"Everyone want to do well for the nation. There is so much quality in the squad, it’s crazy. We are just looking forward now and hopefully we get a win tomorrow and that tops everything.
"It is hard to say [how much better the squad is now compared to 18 months ago]. The squad has always been good. It is just about having that self believe.
"Everyone believes in what we are doing and knows we can beat these big teams and big countries. Yeah, the level of quality coming in now, with Barrie and Stephen Kingsley, it is a bonus for us."
Recent months have not been without their setbacks for Scotland and the back-to-back defeats to Ukraine and the Republic of Ireland in the summer left a sour taste in the mouth.
Yet they also make the current position all the more satisfying. Promotion and the play-offs are now just 90 minutes away and it cannot be said that Scotland haven't earned their shot at glory.
Adams said: "Hopefully we can achieve that. It has been a great camp so far. The lads have played extremely well.
"We are happy just to be here and keep winning. That is the motivation as a team – to get self belief and self confidence by winning games.
"The confidence the manager has shown in us, it’s been very good. We are pushing on now.
"The lads fully deserve it. The amount of training we do day in day out when we are only together a short period of time is exceptional.
"I think everyone can see how good a team we are. These games aren’t easy, playing against the likes of Ukraine, Ireland…they are all hard games and hard places to go. If we can pick some up tomorrow that will be a great achievement again."
