The Scotsman

‘Bundesliga 2 is better than Premiershi­p’

- By ANDREW SMITH

David Bates believes he can be the answer to Alex Mcleish’s selection issues in central defence for Saturday’s pivotal Nations League tie in Albania, with the 22-year-old Hamburg player considerin­g himself “totally ready” to be pitched in for a first senior Scotland outing.

The 22-year-old says he could cope with being thrown in for such a high pressure encounter because he believes his summer move to German second tier side Hamburg from Rangers has allowed him to play at a superior level than the Scottish Premiershi­p.

The injury absences of centre-back Charlie Mulgrew and right-back Stephen O’donnell will require Mcleish to recast his backline. The national manager suffered another blow yesterday when Aberdeen’s Mikey Devlin was forced to withdraw due to a knock sustained against Hibs. Celtic’s Jack Hendry has been called up but pairing Bates with Scott Mckenna in the heart of the Scottish defence is beginning to look like the most sensible option for Mcleish. Bates is confident he is capable of making the step up.

“I have been playing every game for Hamburg except for a couple and I feel I have come on a lot as a player,”

Stuart Armstrong is living the dream at Southampto­n while finding the reality frustratin­g.

The Scotland midfielder made a £7million move from Celtic to Saints in the summer on a four-year deal to fulfil a long-held ambition to ply his trade in the Premier League.

However, the former Dundee United player has made only three starts for the St Mary’s club, the most recent in the 1-1 home draw against Watford at the weekend.

The 26-year-old admits he is still adapting to English football. He said: “I grew up watching a lot of Premier League games, going down with my dad and brother to watch these Premier League games and wanting to be a part of it and it was something I dreamt about as a young player.

“That was my own interest and I’m very happy to be experienci­ng it right now

“It’s always hard when you’re not playing games, starting games especially, because nobody likes sitting on the bench and I’m not the most patient, but I need to learn to adapt.

“I’m in a different league. I spent eight years in the Scottish League, so changing leagues and environmen­ts was always going to be different and a change.

“So I’m being patient and waiting on my chance. It’s just different. Different types of games, different opposition from what I’m used to, so these things always take a little bit of time.

“But I have enjoyed it. I have enjoyed the challenge which was one of the main reasons behind the move. When I do get time on the field, I will try to make an impact.”

Armstrong is certainly not pining for the Ladbrokes Premiershi­p. However, he insists the move down south is not “a natural progressio­n”, but simply an individual choice.

“I wouldn’t say I miss Scottish football,” he said. “I had my time here, I was very grateful for it and have a lot of nice memories.

“That feeling of breaking through at Dundee United as a young player, that experience of first-team football, was incredible and something that you dream about when you’re younger.

“Playing regularly for them and that move to Celtic and playing for, in my view, the best team in Scotland, and to experience success there and to make history [winning the double-treble] was something I’ll never forget.

“But I wanted something new, a new challenge and, if I hadn’t taken that opportunit­y, I think I would have regretted it.”

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