Wily Robertson wows Wilson
GIBRALTAR boss Davie Wilson has highlighted full-back Andrew Robertson as the star of Gordon Strachan’s Scotland team.
The Kilwinning-born naval officer has been placed in temporary charge of UEFA’s newest and smallest national side and admits he is bursting with pride at the prospect of managing a senior team for the first time at his own national stadium.
His task is to ensure the Group D makeweights do not suffer a heavy beating at Hampden and Wilson knows Scotland will hog possession and territorial advantage this evening.
With the centre of the park likely to be congested, he expects Scotland to utilise the flanks and that is where left-back Robertson could come into his own.
An impressive performer since his £3million move to Hull City from Dundee United last summer, the 21-year-old represents a throwback to a former era for the ex-Kilmarnock trainee.
‘I was always a marauding full-back myself, so I love Robertson,’ said Wilson.
‘He’s so talented. The modern footballer now is an athlete. You look at the likes of (Branislav) Ivanovic and (Pablo) Zabaleta and they are changing the shape of full-backs, whereas Robertson has maintained that old, wily Scottish size. But he’s immensely strong, fast and powerful. And he scored against England...’
Robertson was an unused substitute as Derby County’s Craig Forsyth took on the left-back role in the midweek friendly win over Northern Ireland, but Wilson expects Strachan to field his strongest available line-up today.
‘We’ve watched Scotland over and over — and Gordon’s team is gathering momentum,’ said Wilson. ‘The side he put out against Northern Ireland didn’t even resemble it.
‘We’re not daft enough to go “wow, we’re in with a chance here” because we know that Andy Robertson, Alan Hutton, Stevie Naismith and Scott Brown will walk back into the team and recreate the beast he’s created over the past couple of years or so.’
Wilson has his plans in place for the hours before and after today’s contest.
‘Weather permitting, we’ll take a walk along the Clyde on the morning of the game,’ he said. ‘And afterwards, we’ll be straight into the Blue Lagoon chippy under Central Station.’