Ross relishes ‘surreal’ debut for national team
ROSS STEWART got his first taste of action for Scotland in the win over Armenia, and the forward says the experience has made him desperate to get back on the pitch to help his country get another crucial Nations League victory over the Republic of Ireland.
The Sunderland striker came on as a late substitute in Wednesday night’s 2-0 triumph at Hampden, and impressed his manager Steve Clarke in the short time he was on the field.
Now he says he is champing at the bit to be let loose on Stephen Kenny’s struggling Irishmen when the Scots travel to Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening, and prove that he can be an option up front for the national team.
“It has certainly whetted the appetite [for more minutes],” Stewart said. “It is going to be obviously be a tough game away from home.
“They have lost their first games, so, obviously, they’ll be wanting a reaction as well.
“But we know what we have got in that dressing room and it is certainly a game that we will be going over to try and win. Hopefully, we can do that.
“Obviously, this is my second camp and I have really enjoyed both. It’s been an incredible experience to be in with the boys and it is probably this camp where I have really started to settle.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed it and it’s great to finally come on and play minutes because that is what you want to do as a player. Hopefully, I can continue to do that.”
Stewart says he is still pinching himself at being involved in the Scotland set-up, with the former Ross County man’s 26 goals for the Mackems catching Clarke’s eye.
“It felt very surreal,” he said. “Obviously, it was a really proud moment and
I was delighted to get my debut.
“To do it in a game which had importance on it and that we went onto win makes it even better and, overall, it was just a really proud night.
“You are just concentrating on the game. To get five or so minutes at the end, you do take it in a wee bit.
“But it was obviously a game where you want to go on and make an impact in as short a time as you want.
“Even speaking about it now, it’s starting to sink in and I’m really proud.
“My parents were there, so I’m sure we’ll talk a lot about it. It was obviously a very proud moment for me, but certainly a proud moment for them and I am glad that they could be there when I was able to get my first minutes.”
The Scotland team as a unit were pleased to begin to repay the Tartan Army for their support following the disappointing defeat to Ukraine last week, and Stewart says they are determined to continue repaying their debt to them.
“They came out and supported us in their numbers again [against Armenia],” he said.
“The boys are very thankful for that and I have no doubt we will see them in Ireland and probably see them in Armenia as well. They play a big part as well and it was great to send them home with a victory.
“Obviously last week was very disappointing and it was all about showing character to that and the boys did that really well.
“It was a very comfortable victory and a really professional victory. The only thing is that we were probably unlucky not to get a couple of more goals.”
I have thoroughly enjoyed it and it’s great to finally come on and play minutes