SNOD’S GIFT
Dylan insists Villa ace Robert played a key role in his Scots call-up after helping to end his injury misery
ROBERT SNODGRASS isn’t in the latest Scotland squad but he’s already made a vital contribution to Alex McLeish’s revolution thanks to his influence on Dylan McGeouch.
The talented Hibs midfielder was rewarded for his most consistent season yet when McLeish named him in the squad for the forthcoming friendlies against Costa Rica and Hungary.
While McGeouch won’t have the influence of his mate Snodgrass around to help him settle into the set-up, the Aston Villa star has already played his part in him becoming a Scotland player.
It was he who nagged McGeouch to seek out the specialist he works with in London to help him cut out the injury niggles that were holding him back from fulfilling his potential.
McGeouch, set to line up for Hibs tonight against St Johnstone, said: “Robert’s from Glasgow, from up my way, so we had mutual friends and eat in the same restaurants.
“In the summer I met him in a restaurant in the east end called Coia’s. He spoke to me about his setbacks at Hull City with his hip and his knee and recommended a guy I should go and see down in London called Ronan.
“I put it off and put it off but then Robert kind of forced me to go down and see him. He was getting frustrated at seeing me playing two games then missing one game.
“I went down to see him at the start of the season and I’ve been on and off the phone and flying down every couple of months.
“I’ve got a good relationship and we speak all the time and he gives me stuff to do. It has worked because I’ve been available for every game this season and that’s not happened for a long time for me. The backroom team at Hibs have been great too and all round it’s been a lot of effort and it’s been worth it. I’m stronger and robust and I’m glad I listened to Snoddy at the start of the season.
“The guy is a physio, a specialist on the body. Snodgrass got put in touch with him when he was down the road.
“He’s a quiet guy, he just does his business and doesn’t put it on social media. He doesn’t really want attention and he won’t be happy to hear me talking about him so I can’t even give you his second name.
“It’s been great. He takes pride in the players he sees and he’s always texting me after games to see how I have got on.
“I owe everything to him and to the club’s backroom staff. I phoned him when the Scotland squad was announced the other day and I was in it and he was delighted.”
That must have been one of the few calls McGeouch managed to make rather than receive this week as he was bombarded with messages from well-wishers delighted to see his progress recognised internationally.
He said: “A lot of ex-players have been in touch. Guys I didn’t expect like Billy Stark who coached me with the Under-19s and 21s, other people I haven’t spoken to in a few years and former managers.
“It’s overwhelming people are still interested enough to pick up the phone and say, ‘Well done’.
“Growing up as a young kid you dream of playing for your national team but with the stop-start seasons I’ve had here I’ve never put myself in that bracket, especially with the midfield we have had.
“But now I have had a consistent run of games and the team is doing well too.
“And we’re starting to see the
rewards of the hard work that myself, the team and the backroom staff here have all put in with a few of us in the squad.”
His boss Neil Lennon is delighted too for the boy he reared as a kid at Celtic, only to see those injury setbacks scupper his hopes of breaking through at Parkhead.
Now both men are thriving together at Hibs and Lennon hopes the international recognition afforded to McGeouch and his team-mate John McGinn can convince him to sign a new contract to stay at Easter Road beyond the summer.
Lennon said: “I hope this strengthens our chances of keeping Dylan. Hopefully he sees that this club and this environment is good for him.
“He may have his own ideas but we will have to sit down and see where we go but I don’t want to upset things at the minute.
“I can’t force him to stay but I can try to persuade him and let him know that we all want him to stay – and for more reasons than just football because he is good to have around the place.
“I’m delighted for him. He has had a great season and this is the highest honour you can get.
“His buddy John McGinn is in the Scotland squad as well and it’s testament to the way he has played this season.
“He has been very consistent and the level of his performances have been very high. The way he conduct himself, not just on the pitch but on the training ground, I have seen him mature and in the majority of games he has been outstanding.
“He’s still young, he’s only 25. He burst on to the scene and like a lot of kids it didn’t materialise for him at Celtic, for one reason or another. But he has found a home here and we are seeing the real Dylan McGeouch.
“There’s an inner strength in him that wasn’t there before and in a lot of games he’s given us real control by taking a lot of responsibility and he’s one of those who when he’s on the ball you relax.”
It’s worked because I’ve been available for every game this season DYLAN McGEOUCH