Robertson has designs on last-16 place

ANDREW ROBERTSON is spearheading a new generation of Scottish footballers.

The Liverpool left-back, an £8m snip from Hull City, will captain Scotland at the European Championship and is among a handful of Scottish players now excelling in the Premier League.

Once the English top flight was full of great Scots, from Law and Mackay, Bremner and Crerand, to Dalglish and Souness. But the supply lines ran dry and the Scots became a vanishing species south of the border.

Now they are back, with Robertson at Anfield, Scott McTominay at Manchester United, Kieran

Tierney at Arsenal, John McGinn at Aston Villa, and Che Adams and Stuart Armstrong at Southampton all key men for their clubs. Then there is Billy Gilmour coming through at Chelsea, one of the most exciting teenagers in the game who will turn 20 on the opening day of the championship.

Together, they have taken Scotland to their first European Championship since Euro 96 and first major tournament since France 98.

Robertson (right) is adamant they mean business. He said: “We’re there to compete. We are not there to make up the numbers. We are there to make it difficult for the other teams in the group.

“That’s what we will aim to do and hopefully we will make it difficult for all three to get anything off us. Hopefully we can get the results we need to progress into the last 16.

“It will be a massive moment for me and all the lads who are behind me in the squad.

“Being able to represent your country at a major tournament, forget about the armband, is one of your biggest honours.

“I can’t wait, the lads can’t wait for it and it will be a proud moment for us.”