Instruction Manuel

Scotland squad play in the top flight down south – will help his cause.

“There’s never been any doubt about playing for Scotland,” he said. “I love it and I want to play at a major tournament. You come up when you have pains and niggles, but I am always there and I always will be there. I’ll always support the boys even if I’m not involved.

“I was talking to Faddy [Scotland coach James McFadden] about it and age does creep up on everybody, but I’m playing in the Premier League, I’m playing in one of the best leagues in the world. So I want to bring that to the Scotland team and help the young lads coming through as well.” “I’m just glad to be here, it’s the start of a campaign and we need to get off to a good start. I’m happy to be here and let the young boys know what it means to play i n these big tournaments, how much it means for the nation to qualify. We are all desperate for the one thing and that’s qualification.

“Nobody wants to start off on the wrong foot, so it’s important we get as much experience with the younger boys and try to have a successful campaign.”

Snodgrass initially made himself unavailable for selection for the Belgium and Albania games after speaking to McLeish as he was still commuting from London to Glasgow to help his mother in her recovery from a stroke and was unsure what the future held for him at club level with West Ham.

But the former Livingston and Stirling Albion player that nobody would be happier if he was to help them secure qualification for Euro 2020 than his mum.

“I was going to the hospital and she was saying I had to be with the boys because we had big games,” he said. “They are patriotic my family. She’s always trying to make sure her boys are alright, when you are trying to make sure she is alright.

“The hardest thing for me was not being there constantly because I’m plying my trade down south. It is difficult. If I could have kept it in-house I would have, but you need to tell the truth because it’s the whole reason behind it. I never wanted it to be about me, it was always about being part of a team.”

ROBERT Snodgrass last night stressed he is committed to helping Scotland qualify for the Euro 2020 finals – and spoke for the first time about the personal issue that led to him being omitted from the squad for the Belgium and Albania games.The West Ham forward was called up by national manager Alex McLeish on Sunday as a replacement for injured West Brom star Matt Phillips – less than a week after he had been warned he may not be able to win back his place.McLeish stated the player had asked not to be considered for the friendly game against Belgium at Hampden on Friday evening and the Nations League match with Albania in Glasgow on Monday.But the 30-year-old has revealed he has been commuting between London and Glasgow to help his mother Irene recover from the stroke she suffered last year.“I hadn’t chucked it,” he said. “The last time I was in the squad my mum was in the hospital, and I was in and out of the squad to visit her. It was a difficult one.“I spoke to Alex and he told me he wanted me to be part of it, but he said I had to make sure my family back home was alright. He was always talking to me and he was really good.“It was a decision for me that was quite easy.“I love playing for Scotland. So to say I turned my back on them, that’s never been the case ever.”