Italy was my only way out
problems. It will be a very interesting tie and a very open game I’m sure.
“The Scots look like they have improved a fair bit lately and will be looking to get the kind of result that will give them momentum going into their next game against England.”
Cikos revealed that the tartan contingent in the Ross County dressing room were cheering on Slovakia against England during the last round of fixtures.
He added: “They didn’t say too much in the lead- up to the actual game as I suppose they were more focused on Scotland getting a good result against Malta.
“But after the match all the talk in the dressing room was about how we were very unlucky not to have got something out of it, given Adam Lallana scored the winner for the English in the 94th minute.
“I think they really wanted us to win and the draw would have been a better result for the Scots too.
“So they shared my pain over the defeat I think.”
For Cikos, the most dangerous Scottish players will be wingers James Forrest and Barrie McKay.
He said: “I’ve seen both Barrie and James at close quarters and they wi l l cause problems for my home country if they are given space on Tuesday night.
“As a full-back I’m always wary of wide men anyway, but those two are very dangerous.
“I was on the bench for Ross County at Ibrox a couple of weeks ago and Barrie is a threat to any team.”
Cikos was previously on loan at the Dingwall club for the second half of the 2013-14 season after midfield compatriot Filip Kiss persuaded him to relocate to the Highlands with him.
He made 14 appearances before returning to parent club Slovan Bratislava but he was delighted to come back for a longer spell a few months ago.
Cikos said: “Jim McIntyre, who took over as Ross County manager just after my loan spell ended in 2014, got in touch with my agent in June of this year.
“I came over for pre-season training and after a couple of weeks he offered me a one-year contract which I was happy to sign.
“The club has improved a lot in the two years I was away.
“The training facilities are a lot better, everything is more professional, and you can tell the chairman has put in a lot of money.
“It’s great being back and Jim is a very good coach, a real disciplinarian who makes sure the players are full of energy and give their all on the pitch, whether they’re moving forward or dropping back into defence. It’s a fantastic club to be a part of and I’ve settle in very well in Inverness with my wife Simona and three-year- old daughter Sara.”
Cikos, who has also turned out for Inter Bratislava and Wisla Krakow during his career, believes that if he can properly establish himself in the SPFL Premiership, then his national team could come calling again.
The Bratislava-born defender won 17 caps at Under-21 level and played for his country in full internationals against Russia and Montenegro in 2014. He said: “I know the national coach Jan Kozak very well and he is an excellent manager.
“He gave me my chance with the senior team a couple of years ago and if I can keep playing at a high level I’d like to think I would get a fresh opportunity in the future.
“It is something I feel I can achieve and I’m determined to do it.” England’s forgotten hero Joe Hart plans to rebuild his career at Torino – but last night confessed a move to Italy was all he had left.
The Manchester City keeper said he had no other option after being cast aside by gaffer Pep Guardiola.
Hart is on a year-long loan at the Serie A side and admits he isn’t looking too far into his future.
The England No.1 said: “I’m at Torino for this season and it’s hard to look past that and playing for England.
“Football is a game of opinions and some people have a great opinion of me and some people probably think I’m absolutely useless.
“Unfortunately for me, one of the guys’ opinions in charge of my club wasn’t as strong as it needed to be.
“It was what it was. I had a situation at City where my playing time was going to be limited so I had to look elsewhere.
“I felt like Torino was the best option. I’m not going to lie. I wasn’t sat there with 25 options.
“Torino was a really good option for me and it definitely excited me to go to play in Serie A.
“I’ve a huge commitment to the c lub, a huge commitment to the season, the culture, the football and I’m going to give it my all. I have no regrets.”
Hart has been given a warm welcome by the Ital ian club and their passionate fans.
City and Torino have close links going way back to 1961 when Scotland legend Denis Law made the same move.
The Torino ultras have even imported, all the way from Manchester, a huge banner depicting Hart to unveil at matches.
Hart said: “The ultras asked if I was comfortable with them using it. I told them I was happy with whatever made them happy.
“Someone told me there is some sort of link between the two clubs so maybe I’ve ignited that flame again.”