Ross Stewart has revealed how playing alongside former Rangers and England star Jermain Defoe has helped fire him into the Scotland squad.
The big frontman, who has netted 22 goals for Sunderland, is in the form of his life and that has helped convince Steve Clarke to include him in his squad for Thursday’s game with Poland and then the away trip to either Austria or Wales.
Stewart has admitted the January arrival of Defoe has been a big help to him.
The 39-year-old quit Rangers for a return to the Stadium of Light in January and Stewart admitted it has been a real education.
Defoe might be in the twilight of his playing days but after a career that has seen him win 57 England caps and play for the likes of West Ham and Tottenham he has taken Stewart under his wing.
He explained: “JD and I have got on really well since he has come in. We have been quite close.
“It is good to pick his brain on different things and just to watch him train every day is great because you learn so much from him.
“He has done it throughout his career and so when he did come in I knew it was such a good opportunity for me to learn from him and to add to my own game, knowing he has been there and done it at the highest level. He has helped me so much. He is always telling me to be selfish, follow things in and get in positions where you can score.
“All the boys in the dressing room look up to him. He is also still in great shape.”
Stewart now hopes this is the start of what will be his own prolonged international career. The 25-year-old has now rocketed from the juniors all the way up to the international scene.
His parents, Cameron and Sandra, have been with him all the way and they were the first people Stewart called on Saturday night to tell them of his Scotland selection.
He proudly said: “I think my mum and dad were in as much shock as I was when I told them. I owe a lot to them for this happening. It was just a really proud moment for me in general.
“My parents will be at the game on Thursday and they come down to watch me quite a lot. I think a lot of my other family and mates will also come along.”
The Irvine-born attacker had never had a sniff of a Scotland call-up before at any level.
He had been mentioned in dispatches about a possible call-up in recent months but didn’t take that too seriously.
Stewart was too focused on trying to get Sunderland, where he has been nicknamed ‘the Loch Ness Drogba’, out of League One.
Stewart admitted: “I have never been close at all.
“I had a wee look when squads were announced but only because I am a big Scotland fan and the team have done very well over the last few years.
“The standard of the squad has been really high and this one is no different. It will be good to train with the squad.
“We have so many top players and professionals and it will be good to see them up close and to learn from them.”
There was a concern that even though Stewart is playing for a big club, in Sunderland, that League One might have been an issue to a possible Scotland call-up. Stewart explained: “I tried not to focus on that too much. I try to do well for Sunderland and then you just hope an international call-up comes about.
“I feel I have had a good season. I have scored a good number of goals and I am pleased with how I have done although I still want to add to that tally between now and the end of the season.
“It is great to get this recognition. It shows I must be doing something right and I am really looking forward to the next week or so that is ahead. I can’t wait for it.”
The good thing is that Stewart has already scored at Hampden – albeit in very different circumstances to his next visit.
It was on that journey he netted a goal for Albion Rovers in a 2-1 defeat to Queen’s Park at the national stadium back in December 2016.
Stewart admitted he got a real boost from scoring at Hampden at that level.
If he could do it wearing an international jersey that would be a new ball game altogether.
Stewart confirmed: “I have played once at Hampden. That was for Albion Rovers against Queen’s Park in front of about 600 people.
“That is the only time but funnily enough I managed to score that day. It was my first experience of Hampden but even playing in the stadium when there weren’t a lot of fans was amazing.
“You always dream you can do it again in a bigger game in the future and if I got my chance with Scotland and managed to score then that would be an absolute dream come true.
“It will be a lot different on Thursday. The stadium will be near full and I know the standard of the game will be a lot better as well.”
There will also be a very different level of opposition when Robert Lewandowksi and his fellow Poles head to Glasgow.
Stewart, with a smile, admitted; “I know, I haven’t really thought about that too much. He is one of the best No.9s in Europe and when you step up to the international level that is the sort of quality you are competing against.
“I just can’t wait. I am looking forward to it and the whole experience is something I will never forget.”
