The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Distance no obstacle for determined attacker
Johnny Russell stressed his commitment to Scotland after making another long journey to join up with Alex McLeish’s squad.
Sporting Kansas City forward Russell is keen to add to his eight caps in the double-header with Albania and Israel.
The 28-year-old former Dundee United and Derby player said: “I feel good. I am used to it now.
“The facilities and the sports science... it is not a problem.
“I was out of the squad for so long, I said I would do anything to be back in.
“People have brought up the distance before but I have said there isn’t a distance that I wouldn’t travel to come back and play for my country.
“It is five hours for me. It can be difficult to travel, especially when you have been doing it all season but I spent so long out of the squad I would never do anything to jeopardise it again.”
The striker arrived back in Scotland in confident moood after Kansas City’s 5-3 aggregate win over Real Salt Lake sent them through to the Western Conference Championship of the MLS Cup play-offs, where they will face Portland Timbers.
He said: “Obviously winning at your club definitely helps when you come away and hopefully I can continue that.
“We have had a great year. The aim was to get into the play-offs and we have done that and we have another two tough games when I get back but I will think about them after these two.
“We know it is two massive games (Albania and Israel), must-win games, all the boys know that so it is time to get the head down and get to work.
“It is going to be a difficult game, they beat Israel and they caused us a couple of problems. But we need to win the game.”