CALL OFF OR IT’S ALLOFF
Title-chasing Anfield star Robbo simply dare not risk wrecking his season
benefit in the long run as he aims to be fully fit for March’s crucial play-offs.
Liverpool star Robertson led a trio of English Premier League call-offs from Steve Clarke’s squad yesterday with Manchester United’s Scott McTominay and Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser also missing out for the games against Cyprus and Kazakhstan.
Robertson aggravated a niggling ankle injury in the 3-1 win over Manchester City on Sunday.
The skipper, 25, still travelled north to meet up at the national team training base in Edinburgh where he will support his team-mates until they fly out for Saturday’s Group I clash in Nicosia.
Liverpool medics insist he needs time to recover. The £8million man revealed he was desperate to feature but had to put himself first.
Robertson said: “It’s a big disappointment for me. I don’t care what game it is, I want to play it and my track record in the last five years has shown that.
“But I don’t want to pick up more injuries and ruin my season because of it.
“The games in March are so big for us and will decide whether we go to a major tournament or not. So we all have to be fully fit and fully firing, and hopefully confident after these two results.
“The call has been made and it has been taken out of my hands. It hurts as captain to miss out but I’ve had to be selfish for the first time in my career and let my body rest.
“I’ve had to listen to the people around me when previously I would have told them to beat it.
“The fact my ankle has swollen up again has made it easier to miss these games.
“For the last two-and-ahalf weeks I’ve not trained at all for Liverpool.
“It’s a niggling injury which won’t go away unless I give it time. If you know Liverpool and our schedule we don’t have time and after suffering another knock against City it has got worse.
“My ankle was already injured but Rodri tackled me late on in the middle of the park and it opened my ankle up again.
“I was already a doubt but unfortunately that made it even worse and sealed it.
“When I look back at my career so far I’ve played games I probably shouldn’t have due to injuries and I’ve maybe been lucky not to make it worse.
“I am paid to play and love playing but if I keep playing this ankle is going to get worse and I will be no use to anyone sitting on a treatment table.”
Fellow Anglos Liam Cooper and Kieran Tierney had already been ruled out, with the second part of the double-header against Kazakhstan at Hampden next Tuesday.
But Robertson says players aren’t turning their backs on boss Clarke, who has called up Graeme Shinnie, Lewis Morgan and Ryan Porteous.
The Anfield star added: “I understand our nation’s call-offs are scrutinised a lot more because since the manager has come in there’s been quite a few.
“The lads unfortunately have to listen to their bodies and sometimes their clubs.
“It’s not from a lack of trying from the lads, but in terms of injuries it’s never easy and when you do have a small injury then sometimes you need to rest it.”