Steve Clarke has defended skipper Andy Robertson after admitting he was 'pleased' to see him getting over his Champions League disappointment.
The Liverpool star was pictured having a beer on the Reds' bus parade as they celebrated their FA Cup and League Cup successes.
Some Scotland fans expressed concerns with such a massive game against the Ukraine just days after.
READ MORE: Nathan Patterson OUT of Scotland's clash with Ukraine as Steve Clarke provides squad update
But Clarke is in no doubt his captain will be raring to go at Hampden later tonight and says some people make too much out of small things.
Speaking ahead of the crucial World Cup semi-final play-off, he said: "I didn’t see the criticism.
“I saw the clip and I was pleased that he was getting over his disappointment. Some people want to make too much out of small things.
“It was the right thing to do, the right thing to celebrate with his team and his supporters on the back of a fantastic season for Liverpool.
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"He has joined us in a great place and that’s all I am concerned about. I don’t care about criticism. It won’t bother Andy and it certainly won’t bother me.
“We had a little chat and he is fine. Listen, Liverpool had a great season. When you look at two of the four major trophies in the cabinet, missed out on the league by a point and one goal did them in the Champions League final. They should have been in front before they conceded that goal.
“They were very close to the quadruple, they’ve had a great season.
"Finishing with two disappointments is something you learn to deal with as a professional player. It’s not as if he is going to a poor Nations League end of season game with Scotland.
“It’s one of the biggest games he has probably ever faced for his country, so he will be ready to go.’ We all want it, they all want it. You must have seen that, you must have seen the evolution of this group over the last three years.
“They want to be successful for their country. Andy is the leader of that and he is the captain. He drives that and we are in a good place.”
Hearts and Scotland No1 Craig Gordon also leapt to the defence of his international team-mate and says he will be 'absolutely' ready to go.
He added: “Andy will be here, ready to play.
“He’s played so many games in the past couple of seasons, I think he’s one short of 120 games or something crazy like that.
“So, I think we can give him one beer and I’m sure he will be absolutely ready and flying up and down that left-hand side as he has been for the last couple of years.”
