Celtic star Anthony Ralston has revealed the Scotland squad were given a personal gift and letter by captain Andy Robertson ahead of the World Cup.
Robertson’s gesture appears to have struck a chord with the squad.
Ralston explained that the Liverpool defender gave each player traditional items along with a personal message, reminding them how proud he is of the group and how much they want to represent Scotland properly on the world stage.
Speaking to SunSport, Ralston said: “It was a lovely wee gift just with some traditional items and a personal letter.
“It was a really nice touch from Andy, brilliant.
“The message was to say how proud he personally was of the squad and how we want to make everybody else proud by doing the best that we can.
“That’s really what hits home with us. We don’t want to let anybody down.
“It was an amazing touch and all the boys appreciated it and felt thankful for that.
“It has been absolutely brilliant since everybody came into camp and everybody met up.
“We know how much this moment means. Not just to us as players and staff, but also to everyone back home, including families, and we don’t want to let anybody down.
“We are fully focused on being the best we can be in the tournament.”
For Ralston, this is another major chapter in his Scotland career.
He has had to fight for every bit of recognition at club and international level, but his place in the squad says plenty about the trust Clarke has in him.
The defender also knows the scale of what Scotland are walking into. A World Cup is different. The pressure is bigger, the spotlight is brighter, and every mistake carries more weight.
For Celtic supporters, Ralston’s involvement will be a proud one. He has come through the hard way, stuck at it, and now has the chance to play his part for Scotland on the biggest stage.
