Andy Robertson’s rise from humble beginnings to the very pinnacle of the professional game has been an inspiration for countless children across Scotland and further afield over the years.
But John McGinn last night revealed that seeing his national team mate scaling such heights with club and country has given him the self-belief that he has needed to perform similar feats in the game as well.
McGinn has known Robertson since they played for the St Mirren and Celtic youth teams as boys and he has marvelled as much as any supporter at what his old rival has gone on to accomplish in the game.
He admitted that seeing the defender, who worked on the tills at Marks and Spencer when he was playing part-time for Queen’s Park at the start of his career, become a Premier League and Champions League winner with Liverpool has left him in awe.
McGinn, who skippered Aston Villa to the Europa League last season, has done alright in the professional ranks himself. But would the midfielder have made such a name for himself without seeing what Robertson accomplished? He is unsure.
He will be applauding his captain as much as any member of the Tartan Army when his old mucker makes his 100th appearance for Scotland in the Nations League match with North Macedonia here in Skopje this evening.
“It’s brilliant to be involved in this occasion,” he said. “Robbo is playing it down, but it’s an amazing achievement. It’s a complete fairytale story.
“He doesn’t like going back and thinking of it as a fairytale, but how many players have dropped down to part-time football and worked in Marks and Spencers or in the team’s kit room?
“This is something that might never happen again. He can give inspiration to any young player who is feeling rejection or feeling like giving up on a dream of representing your country 100 times.
“He deserves everything that comes his way now, in November (when he could overtake Sir Kenny Dalglish as Scotland’s most capped player) and beyond. He’s been an unbelievable leader for us and a great example for everyone, including for me.”
McGinn is doubtful that Scotland would have qualified for the Euro 2020, Euro 2024 and World Cup ’26 finals without Robertson, who was appointed captain by former manager Alex McLeish in 2018, wearing the armband.
“During Liverpool’s most successful era in years, competing at the top end of the Premier League and Champions League, he was always available for Scotland,” he said. “Even at 60 or 70 percent, carrying injuries, he never found an excuse to give himself more rest.
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“He’s built a no-ego, no-excuse mentality here. Is it always perfect for us? No. But he’s a massive reason why we’ve been to three out of four major tournaments. He’s a credit to himself and his family.
“If I was to describe him in one word? Driven. It’s just belief. He always feels like he’s got something more. That’s what’s taken him to the levels he’s been to and the clubs he’s played for. He’s always had that and he’s won everything."
McGinn continued, “We played against each other all the time at youth level. Our first encounter would have been at under-11’s at the science parks in Glasgow. St Mirren v Celtic, me and him in the midfield.
“Never would we have thought we’d be captain and vice-captain of Scotland and approaching 100 caps. It’s been two completely different journeys, but hopefully players at St Mirren and Queen’s Park will look at now as possible.
“We want people to think they can do more than us. Not replicate, but try and get 150 caps. Try and be the next Luka Modric or Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I do think the country sometimes lacks belief. We put ourselves down all the time. But Robbo has been a shining example. He’s certainly made me believe that we can compete at the top.”
McGinn, who is Scotland’s fifth highest scorer of all-time having netted 21 caps, has won 91 caps himself and he is convinced that having Robertson alongside him in the majority of them has enabled him to excel at international level.
“I think he has pretty much been there in them all,” he said. “I say I have always been there to assist him, but he has been amazing. He takes a lot of responsibility on his shoulders.
“He has to deal with a lot of things off the pitch and make difficult decisions which you don’t have to as vice-captain. I respect him a lot for that. I would like to think I have been a different voice in his ear and have helped him along the way.
“I am behind him. I have told him that he needs to outstay me! I have always said I will play for Scotland until I am not getting picked or helping the team. But the two of us have still got a lot left in the tank.
“We have had our dark days together, we have struggled together, we have had great times together. There is nothing better than representing your country. If we can get to 120 or 125 then you just never know.”
