I’m on fire –Thailand so hot too

TRAINING sessions with this squad are always high tempo but Sunday’s had added intensity.

It’s not every day there’s an armed guard to keep you on your toes. The Thai Royal family are based along the beach and their gun-toting protection unit kept an eagle eye on our exercise.

This Scotland side has its own heavy artillery with yours truly providing the firepower during a friendly against a local amateur side. A stunning double in a 5-1 win displayed further evidence this team has enough to make a stab at claiming the silverware.

Age hasn’t dulled the predatory instincts that served this striker so well during a decade of lowerleague anonymity.

The World Cup warm-up came at a cost. The Thai boys were taking no prisoners and one chap took exception to Frankie Arthur’s world’s slowest nutmeg with a death stare right out of James Bond.

It also had the Ferry brothers Martin and Jimmy in the wars. Martin suffered a dig in the ribs as the locals adopted a bit of Thai boxing. And it resulted in a 500 baht fine as the pair were late for dinner – with Grant Tierney judge and jury.

Jimmy claimed the delay was due to him having to wash his brother’s hair, dress him, tie his laces and comb his side-shed as a result of his stricken state.

With temperatures in the mid-30s, humidity is akin to playing football inside a sauna but the pounds are falling off.

Skipper Gary Holt described it as “heart attack” weather. Let’s hope the only shock is an opening win over England.