Steven Naismith admits that he expected to get near to 50 caps but says assisting Scotland qualify for a tournament would be his best accomplishment in dark blue.
The Hearts will reach a century of looks if he chooses the field against Russia at Scotland’s fifth Euro 2020 qualifier on Friday night, live on Sky Sports.
But the one accolade the 32-year-old is really concerned about is becoming one of the very first Scotland players to create a finals since the country qualified for the World Cup in France in 1998.
On the possibility of a 50th cap, the former Kilmarnock, Rangers, Everton and Norwich player said:”It could be a great honour. I really don’t think that is at the front of my mind in terms of where we’re at and where I’m at personally.
“It would be something I would likely look back and scratch my head to say,’How can I manage that?’ Even to get into your 40s in terms of caps, that was something.
“You get to 25 and kind of lose track of it and before you know it you are nearing 50. Personally, amazing accomplishment, however, the need is for people to earn a tournament. That would go way beyond the 50-cap mark.
“For me was through a number of campaigns that you feel as in the event you owe (the lovers ) because we have underachieved in the preceding campaigns so you are desperate to do it.”
Naismith says he insists their eligibility record is unacceptable and anticipated to be eligible with the players Scotland have had at their disposal for tournaments.
“I know how close we are, we’ve got a very good pool of players that are playing in their peak in a excellent league, England and overseas. We simply need to think it and go outside and show it to the playground,” he said.
“It has not been good enough, simple as. When I came in we’d players like that, Barry Ferguson, David Weir, Darren Fletcher. It ought to modify. The competition for places is that there, the manager has a clear strategy and is meticulous, thus we’re taking the ideal steps.”
Last 17, steve Clarke tried to sign Naismith and Kilmarnock, after getting to work with all the Scotland manager, along with the Hearts forward was impressed.
“The biggest thing is there’s a clear plan and we’ll work on that strategy as hard as we could as long as we will need to,” he explained. “However, this next phase of games are going to be very important.”
Naismith declared himself fit since suffering a hamstring injury against Ross County on August 10 for Hearts, despite playing just nine minutes.
“I’ve been careful with a number of the injuries I have had, together with where I had been in terms of outside of contract,” said Naismith, who had two knee operations last season.
“But I’ve had a great couple of months’ training and I’m feeling good. When you get old it is more of a lifestyle thing, rather than go through pre-season and work very tough to remain fit, you naturally stay fit during the entire year.”
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