ANDY Robertson has predicted his old flat mate Ryan Gauld can provide Scotland with the creativity and cutting edge they were missing up front during the Euro 2024 finals in Germany and help to lift the country despite his lack of international experience.
Robertson was delighted when he heard that Gauld had been handed his first call-up by a national team manager in 10 years when the squad for the Nations League matches against Poland and Portugal was announced last month.
He both lived and played with the Vancouver Whitecaps attacking midfielder and Rangers centre half John Souttar during the season that he spent at Dundee United and was pleased to be reunited with both of them again this week as preparations for the Group A1 double header got underway.
The Scotland captain is determined to put the disappointment of the summer – Steve Clarke’s men failed to find the form they showed in qualifying or make it out of Group A and reach the last 16 - and thinks the uncapped playmaker can contribute a huge amount to their cause in their forthcoming matches.
He revealed the 28-year-old - who flew in to his homeland from Texas, where he had helped Vancouver to beat Austin 1-0 in the MLS on Sunday – had made an immediate impression on his compatriots during training at the City Stadium in the last few days.
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“First of all, I have loved seeing him,” said the Liverpool left back. “I haven’t seen him in a long time. Just because he has obviously been playing abroad and our schedules do not quite match up with the MLS in England. First of all, it was amazing seeing him.
“We shared a flat together, me, him and John, for the season that I was at Dundee United. We had some really good times there and I still keep in touch with him. It was really good catching up with him.
“But as a player, we have seen his quality on the pitch within training already. We know that he can cut a team open with passes, we know he can create, we know he can score.
“But we also have other players that can do that as well. You know, [Scott] McTominay for one, [John] McGinn for the other. These players are obviously experienced. All of us were disappointed by what happened in the summer, but these players have got so much quality.
“But we have also added to it, Ben Doak, I see closely at Liverpool as well. And Lewis Morgan can do well in the MLS. So we are bringing in players that obviously excite the manager, excite the coaches. Younger players as well.
“Ryan is not young. He is a bit older now. But he has had to work hard. He is doing really well in America. And we hope that he can bring the quality here, the quality that he showed that in training. Whatever minutes he gets then hopefully he shows it on the pitch too.”
There is huge excitement among members of the Tartan Army about what the former Celtic kid can offer the national team and Robertson does not want to increase the hype which surrounds his young countryman. However, he is optimistic the wide boy can make the step up into the national side and flourish.
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“I love Doakie,” he said as he looked ahead to the meeting with Poland at Hampden this evening. “I have got a lot of time for him. But I don't want to put any pressure on the wee man.
“I could see the quality that he has got at Liverpool. He has obviously gone out on loan now to Middlesbrough, which will give him so much good experience. Michael Carrick, from what I can see, is a fantastic manager. That will help him.
“He is an exciting player, of course he is. That is what he is. He has always been that from a young age. He has pace, he has power, but there are also things he needs to work on.
Robertson added: “But we have to be careful. He is a young player. He needs to gain experience. He needs to work on things. He knows that. The quality that he does have is very good. I think he will have a fantastic career at whatever level that may be. I think he will have a good international career, but it is important that we are patient with him.
“It is important that we see him grow. Like I said, let him grow. I think that is the key thing. Sometimes we get on top of young players far too quickly. I think we need to let him grow. We need to see him being excited. Don't get too carried away. But I think he will be an amazing player.”
