Steven Naismith insists Andy Robertson received’t have any Champions League hangover – as a result of main Scotland to the World Cup can be simply as huge an achievement.
The nationwide staff coach isn’t fearful concerning the skipper being down within the dumps after Liverpool had been edged out by Actual Madrid in Paris on Saturday night time.
Naismith is aware of Robertson will report for Scotland service this morning and hit the remainder button to get his head within the sport for Wednesday’s play-off showdown towards Ukraine.
The Anfield star will mud himself down and search for the following problem – as a result of that’s what huge time gamers like Robbo do.
Naismith stated: “I believe he can be advantageous. He can have the frustration as a result of I’ve been there myself if you’ve been to cup finals. Nevertheless it occurs yearly with the League Cup and the Scottish Cup finals in Scotland. You would argue John Souttar has been in the same state of affairs (after dropping Scottish Cup Ultimate with Hearts).
“As a lot as you have got the frustration, soccer is 24/7, all 12 months spherical.
“As he drops into the squad right here the dynamics change and the environment change and the main focus simply leads straight on to the following sport.
“That’s prime stage soccer now. So from that perspective there received’t be a problem with Robbo, and not using a shadow of a doubt.
“Now the main focus is on one other huge sport and the rewards for that as are huge as anything as a result of you have got the prospect to go to a World Cup.
“The expertise Robbo has had over the past six, seven, eight years has constructed him as much as be in that elite class that he understands the way it works. So I don’t suppose will probably be a problem for him.”
Robertson is often the person who motivates the squad, the man who helps and cajoles his teammates, the person who fires the rocket up the bottom or offers the arm across the shoulder.
It might be the flip of others within the group to supply the captain a shoulder however Naismith doesn’t suppose will probably be wanted.
The squad have bene arriving in dribs and drabs over the previous few days however there’s a coming feeling within the camp.
It doesn’t matter if they're pitching up on the again of a league or cup win or loss, a relegation battle or a promotion scrap.
All the pieces is now about Scotland and attending to the promised land of a World Cup.
The gamers can be there for Robertson if want be however Naismith stated: “It's. However to begin with I might that applies to the entire squad. The way in which the squad has been – two weeks in the past, final week, this week – everyone seems to be doing all they'll. “The June calendar is at all times the one which’s acquired essentially the most variations in it as a result of everybody stops at totally different instances and all the remainder of it.
“Nevertheless it exhibits the character all of them have that as quickly as they end their season they don't seem to be considering ‘oh I’ll get a wee break earlier than we go away’. After I first got here into the squad that was the thought course of.
“Everybody is devoted. Everybody has had the sensation of going to the Euros by the play-offs so the dedication is there.
“However on prime of that for Robbo, he's the chief. He's the captain. He is likely one of the faces of this group who has managed to get us to a significant event and he has continued with that. And what he does at membership stage, he's a pure chief.
“And on prime of that, when he's performing the way in which he's and persistently being right here and eager to play, he’s an awesome man for everyone to look as much as.”
Robertson can be prepared to steer the facet out at Hampden and Naismith is aware of this Scotland facet will should be firing to beat an Ukraine facet arriving amid the conflict with Russia at house.
There’s loads of respect for his or her opponents and a ton of sympathy.
However there’s additionally a way the soccer is now on the forefront and Naismith doesn’t purchase any strategies will probably be Ukraine with extra drive at Hampden due to brutal backdrop.
The previous Rangers and Hearts ace stated: “I wouldn’t say so, and that’s me simply seeing the gamers.
“Particularly from the second we certified for the Euros I might say there’s an actual drive with the group.
“They're all saying it was among the finest emotions that they had of their complete footballing profession.
“And it was solely a brief time frame in the past, so it’s nonetheless recent.
“That’s what’s dangling on the finish of those video games.
“So I wouldn’t say the motivation is any much less for us, under no circumstances.
“And that comes from the success we've had within the Euro marketing campaign and likewise the squad being so aggressive.”
Ukraine might need a touch of the unknown given their uncertainty of current months however there’s one factor Naismith can financial institution on.
Hampden can be rocking.
He stated: “On the entire we've an concept of how we predict they’ll play, what their threats are, issues we’ll must look out for when it comes to stopping them, making a stamp on the sport.
“And on prime of that there’s what we wish to do, a variety of will probably be all the way down to us and the way we wish to play.
“We've acquired to make use of the followers, the anticipation for this sport has most likely dragged on from that point in March and it's lastly coming.
“So I might count on the environment to be electrical, there can be a variety of hope, a variety of confidence from everybody backing us.
“Then the gamers will really feel that, they’ll wish to be concerned in it, and the work we're doing is what we consider is required to get the win.”