Yes, I took a sore one but I’ll be fighting fit to take on Kazakhs
SAYS STEVEN NAISMITH
ANY Hearts fans tuning in to watch the Scotland game would have been susceptible to palpitations around the hour mark as Steven Naismith’s legs gave way, his studs twisting awkwardly on the Cypriot turf. Denied the services of their talisman for most of 2019, the striker had only returned from injury last weekend and inspired his club side to a morale-boosting 5-2 win over St Mirren.
The player’s effervescence was just what Steve Clarke needed, too, and the Scotland boss had no hesitation in pitching the 33-year-old in and, on the occasion of his 50th cap, handing him the captain’s armband.
As he walked off gingerly to be replaced by Oli McBurnie, it seemed like another lengthy spell on the sidelines might be in store.
Happily, Naismith was quick to dispel any concerns over his fitness. Feeling sufficiently recovered from the strain endured during his fall, he even declared himself fit to lead the team out again in Tuesday night’s final Group I fixture against Kazakhstan.
‘It’s all right,’ he said. ‘It’s just that the turf went away from me. I slid one way and my body went the other. It was sore but, to be fair, I feel fine. It’s all good and it was a good night all round for everybody. I’ll definitely be okay to go again on Tuesday.
‘I know my body nowadays and I’m pretty comfortable that I’ll be able to do what I need to recover.’
With Liverpool’s Andy Robertson remaining on Merseyside to receive treatment on an ankle problem, Naismith was happy to accept the leader’s role in Nicosia.
‘I’m naturally the kind of guy who will talk constantly during the game anyway,’ he said of the captaincy. ‘I have not changed the way I am around the place or how I am on the pitch. Hopefully I’ll get to do it again. I would take that all day long.
‘The manager will be the man who makes the call. I’m just glad to be around and give what I can.’
While it was refreshing to see Naismith pour heart and soul into his performance at the end of a week dominated by talk of call-offs, he insists it will count for little if the team does not prevail in its overarching goal to reach the Euro 2020 finals.
With the main qualification route long ago blocked by the twin juggernauts of Belgium and Russia, Clarke’s team have another shot via the play-offs in March.
‘To get 50 caps, I’ve been a while waiting on that last one — it’s been hard work,’ said Naismith.
‘It has probably not sunk in at the moment. I’m proud but what will cap it off is if in March we come through and we are at a major tournament.
‘In years to come, I think I will look back and think it was brilliant. It’s not something I ever really expected I would do in my career.
‘To captain the team and win is great but the performance can’t go unnoticed. We had the wee setback, it wasn’t easy on the eye but we have probably lacked that grit and determination to see out games or get back into them.’
Although deployed as the lone striker, Naismith offered little goal threat against Cyprus, with Celtic’s Ryan Christie and the suddenly prolific John McGinn on the scoresheet in a 2-1 win.
Naismith enjoyed operating in front of those two and also James Forrest who completed the attacking quartet.
‘They are all technically very good players but they also have excellent football brains,’ he added. ‘Even in just their movement. The variation was there.
‘Over the last 18 months at Hearts, I have probably turned into a bit of an elder statesman and, obviously, that is even more the case here with the national team because there have been boys dropping out of the squad.
‘These guys are all professional, so the most important thing is to let them know just how big an opportunity this is. We have a really good chance in March.’
For Christie, there was special joy in scoring his first international goal at the tenth attempt.
His stunning 20-yard strike was in keeping with the form with which he has started the season at Celtic.
The former Inverness man thought he had made the breakthrough against San Marino last month only to find McGinn credited for applying a slight touch on his shot’s route to goal.
‘I’m claiming this one, although McGinn probably tried his best to get on the end of it again,’ he laughed. ‘It was a great feeling. I am delighted to score, especially as it came in a win.
‘It’s much better that way than scoring a consolation goal in a defeat or something. Hopefully it’s the first of many.’
At club level, Christie operates centrally but has been moved wide right by Clarke to accommodate McGinn. He sees the advantages to the positional tweak as it affords scope to cut in and shoot on his favoured left foot.
‘In training, the manager has been on at me to be positive on the ball. He’s told me not to be scared to come inside and make things happen. The full-back showed me inside on my left and I was happy to oblige with the goal.
‘I am happy to play anywhere for my country but I like playing right across the attacking line.
‘It’s good combining with the players around about me and McGinn has been absolutely superb in that No10 role.’
Christie was also pleased for Celtic team-mate Greg Taylor, who replaced Robertson at left-back and belied his lack of game-time at the Parkhead club with the assist for McGinn’s winner.
‘Greg did really well and put in an unbelievable ball for our second goal,’ he said. ‘When you have that sort of depth in the squad it’s great. The skipper was out but Greg came in and took his chance.’