ANDY STILL IN WITH A SHOUT
FROM BACK PAGE official SFA charter to Astana on Sunday night after suffering toothache before his club side’s FA Cup tie against Fulham.
He was whisked away for emergency surgery in Glasgow instead but has pleaded with docs to be allowed to make the 4000 miles journey independently today for Thursday night’s match.
An SFA spokesman said: “We haven’t given up hope of Andy making it but he needs more time to settle back down after the operation before a call is made.” Scotland No.2 Peter Grant added: “He is desperate to play and still trying to get himself back out here. That’s the way Andy is, that’s why the manager selected him to be captain, because he is determined to play for his country.
“He wanted to come out Sunday. He showed that flying up straight after the game, how desperate he was to be here, but when he got checked out it wasn’t possible.
“If it was anybody but Andy you would say there’s no chance. But knowing the way he is, if he thinks he’s got a chance there’s always a possibility. We won’t rule him out.”
Even if the medics decide against Robertson travelling today, Scotland are still confident he will join with the squad on Friday ahead of Sunday’s qualifier in San Marino.
Coach James McFadden said: “There is a chance he could travel for San Marino but we won’t know until we see what the doctor says in terms of guidelines, recovery and flight risk.”
Robertson’s arrival would boost options for Alex McLeish as physios could rule out Celtic comeback star Kieran Tierney from playing on Astana Arena’s plastic pitch.
The Scots will train on the artificial surface for the first time today after being given yesterday off and Tierney will await what reaction, if any, before a call is made.
Aberdeen defender Scott McKenna is also an injury doubt but Grant added: “Ultimately the decision will come down to Scott. Going by his mindset he is going to be available.”
Bournemouth ace Ryan Fraser and Cardiff striker Callum Paterson have already been excused the trip to Kazakhstan as they can’t train or play on artificial pitches but will be back for San Marino.
But Faddy is refusing to offer his squad any outs for underperforming against a side ranked 117th in the world, 77 places below the Scots.
“They are a banana skin because it’s international football and as we’ve seen in the last 20 years or so there are no easy games, certainly for us.
“If we approach it in the right manner and play at our best I’m confident we have enough to win. But we can’t take them lightly.
“They have a new manager and will probably change their shape but we are aware of that. We’ve watched them and feel we have enough to cause them more problems than they cause us.
“We have to play at our best. We can’t play any team, including San Marino, and just expect to win.”