Scotland captain Andy Robertson was so desperate to play for his country’s opening Euro 2020 qualifier that he offered to fly solo to Kazakhstan.
Robertson, who plays for Premier League giants Liverpool, underwent emergency surgery on a painful dental abscess.
2
Robertson played for Liverpool on Sunday but is a doubt for Scotland’s upcoming qualifiers
He took a black cab to Heathrow airport following the Reds’ 2-1 victory at Fulham on Sunday, having failed to find a doctor able to operate immediately in London.
The left-back hoped that by flying to his homeland immediately he could go under the knife in Glasgow on Sunday night but Robertson had to wait until Monday morning for an appointment at the city’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
And according to the Daily Mail, the 25-year-old will make himself available for the clash with Group I minnows San Marino in Serravalle.
He even asked Scottish Football Association officials if they could arrange commercial flights – going against medical advice – to enable him to catch up with the squad in time for Thursday’s group opener at Kazakhstan.
LIVE on talkSPORT
There are eight live commentaries across the talkSPORT network this week. Find out what they are and where to hear them, below...
- Germany vs Serbia (Wednesday) – talkSPORT 2
- Kazakhstan vs Scotland (Thursday) – talkSPORT 2
- England vs Czech Republic (Friday) – talkSPORT
- Walsall vs Barnsley (Saturday) – talkSPORT 2
- Shrewsbury vs Portsmouth (Saturday) – talkSPORT 2
- Gibraltar vs Republic of Ireland (Saturday) – talkSPORT 2
- San Marino vs Scotland (Sunday) – talkSPORT 2
- Netherlands vs Germany (Sunday) – talkSPORT 2
However, that was ruled out on a combination of medical and bureaucratic grounds.
It is understood he even told friends he had hopes of making it to the Kazakh capital Astana, insisting he would see what kind of pain he was in before resuming his insistence on finding a way of making it.
But after Robertson was told it would not be possible, he then voiced his intention to join the squad in San Marino in time for the match on Sunday.
On Robertson’s absence from the team hotel in Astana, Scotland’s assistant coach Peter Grant said: “It’s a big blow. We were prepared for it obviously, before the game on Sunday we knew he was struggling a little bit but he wanted to play.
2
Robertson is desperate to play for his country
“And the way he is, he is still desperate to play and still trying to get himself back out here as well. That’s the way Andy Robertson is, that’s why the manager selected him to be his captain, because he is determined to play for his country.
“He had no choice because he couldn’t fly with it,” the former Celtic midfielder said. “The swelling and the pressure in the air was going to be a problem for him. He went straight from the plane to the hospital and he was hoping he was still going to fly, that’s why we held the plane up a bit. Obviously they wanted him to get an operation done.
“I would hope he would join up for here.
Scotland have a natural replacement at left-back in Kieran Tierney, who missed the Nations League group finale in November through injury.
LATEST FOOTBALL NEWS
Grant said: “The beauty is we have two fantastic players. You are never always going to have everyone fit. But look at the quality you have to come in if he (Tierney) is fully fit.”
Striker Oli McBurnie has recovered from the illness that forced him out of Swansea’s recent games while Callum McGregor reported no ill effects after making his comeback from a calf injury during Celtic’s late victory over Dundee on Sunday.
And Scott McKenna is confident he will face Kazakhstan after Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes raised doubts over the centre-back’s fitness after he played through a thigh problem on Saturday.
Mesut Ozil has been tipped to join Paris Saint-Germain in the new year, with Adrien Rabiot heading to Arsenal in a swap deal.. Despite committing his future to the north London outfit at the beginning of 2018, speculation that the former Germany international could be on his way out next month has increased this week.
Mesut Ozil set to open talks on move to Barcelona with his
Rangers star Alfredo Morelos 'dreams of playing in much better, more competitive league' amid Leicester and Borussia Dortmund transfer interest.
Rangers striker Morelos dreaming of playing in a 'more
Sports journalists and bloggers covering NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MMA, college football and basketball, NASCAR, fantasy sports and more. News, photos, mock drafts, game
Manchester United have sent scouts to watch Wayne Rooney's DC United striker partner ahead of a potential summer move. Luciano Acosta has struck up a fantastic relationship with the former
News list for richarlison flattered by manchester united
Chelsea to offer Hudson-Odoi new £100k-a-week contract as Bayern cool transfer interest after horror Achilles injury Winger who hopes to be fit for the start of next season has turned down the
Hudson-Odoi set for surgery, new Chelsea contract offer - We
The Scotland national team is 'not a great environment' for players or management staff due to the pressure on them to qualify for a major tournament, believes former international John Collins. The ex-Celtic midfielder and coach joined Ally McCoist on Monday's Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast to reflect on Scotland's dreadful start to
Alex McLeish 'to be sacked as Scotland manager in next 24
sportsalert.org/2019/03/28/alex-mcleish-to-be-sacked-as-scotland-manager-in-next-24-hours-following-dreadful-euro-2020-displays/
Toxic Scotland 'not a great place to be' for players or manager, says former Celtic star John Collins. 3,000 Scottish fans booed his team off the pitch after the narrow victory over San Marino, and, although they managed to claim the three points, Scotland already sit in a perilous position in Group I.
John Collins - talkSPORT
Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen is NOT a priority signing for Real Madrid this summer, talkSPORT has been told. The Danish playmaker dropped a bombshell on Wednesday by revealing he wants to leave White Hart Lane this summer to 'try something new'.
Manchester United told they will have to cough up at least £
Celtic must wait at least two weeks to clinch the Ladbrokes Premiership title after being held to a 0-0 draw by Livingston on Saturday. The leaders were denied by a string of first-half saves from Livi goalkeeper Liam Kelly and the home fans endured a frustrating second half as Gary Holt's side sat in and restricted Celtic's chances.
Celtic boss Neil Lennon slams Rangers fans with comment Hoops
Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen ace 'wants to stay' with Blues as transfer ban looms talkSPORT - 13 Apr 2019 Andreas Christensen has been an ever-present under Maurizio Sarri in domestic cup and Europa League games this season. More; Birthday boy Andreas Christensen describes how Europa League helps him and having more hunger
Andreas Christensen ready to commit future to Chelsea with
Arsenal news: Olivier Giroud appears to mock former club
CELTIC and Rangers have both been fined £7,500 for failing to control their players at the end of the Old Firm match at Parkhead at the end of March. Players of both Glasgow clubs squared up to each other on the park after the Ladbrokes Premiership game, which Neil Lennon's side won 2-1. The Ibrox
Celtic and Rangers both fined £7,500 by SFA after Old Firm
No comments:
Post a Comment