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Andy Robertson became more than just Scotland’s new captain yesterday.

When the Liverpool man accepted the armband he also took on the mantle of the embodiment of Scottish football’s recovery.

Well, that’s the plan at any rate. That this real-life poster boy can inspire the current crop of internationals – as well as future generations – to reach for the kind of heights that were supposed to be outwith our grasp.

The teenager from Giffnock who was told he wouldn’t make it at Celtic and ended up selling pies out of a kiosk at Hampden on international nights – now a Champions League finalist adored by the Kop and the skipper of his country. All before he turns 25.

It’s little wonder Scotland’s assistant boss Peter Grant could hardly wipe the smile from his face yesterday after watching Alex McLeish bestow Robertson with the latest milestone of his fairytale journey.

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Grant said: “It’s just a fantastic story and I think it’s great for young players.

“It’s the sort of story that gives hope to young players these days. They are so many getting released at a young age and thinking it is the end of the world.

“But Andy’s living proof if you suffer a setback like that then you have to keep on fighting – it’s one man’s opinion or one club’s opinion.

“It’s remarkable he has gone from selling food at Hampden to leading the team out there.

“We talk about grassroots development but for me Andy’s story is the ultimate.

“You get released form one club and think it’s the end then go amateur and all of a sudden you bounce back and you’re playing in Champions League finals and playing exceptionally well in a fantastically talented side.

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“It’s a fantastic story. There are a lot of young players involved in the squad and I think they see what he achieved last year, obviously getting to the Champions League Final and the way he conducted himself, has been incredible.

“In the games we’ve been in charge of Andy has been magnificent around the group.

“The way he has led the group, the experience he has gained good and bad through that time sets him in good stead. And as I say he has already shown his leadership qualities round about the training ground.”

Robertson’s arrival at Liverpool one year ago marked the beginning of his fast-tracking. He’s hardly stopped for a breath since.

And with other Scots sprinkled around England’s top flight there is a feeling here that Robertson is ready to spearhead Scotland’s charge out of the wilderness years.

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Grant added: “He is absolutely the embodiment of a brighter future. He has shown it’s still possible to do it.

“I remember people questioning the £7million Hull were wanting for. People say he is unaffordable now. Everything he has done has taken guts.

“For me the biggest thing it shows is there’s a hell of a lot of young players still out there – you have to give them a pathway. Andy Robertson is one you can hold up.

“Down the road they’ve got hordes of young boys being put out on loan – they have three teams and they have loan teams now. It’s near impossible to break in at big clubs.

“For someone like Andy to come through and do well is remarkable.”

If there was one player around Scotland’s Edinburgh base yesterday who would have been entitled to feel a little crestfallen by Robertson’s coronation, then it was Blackburn defender Charlie Mulgrew who has been holding the fort since Scott Brown stepped down from the role.

But Grant insists even the veteran is happy to give Robertson his place.

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He said: “Andy has been the most consistent player since we have taken over. We like the way he goes about his business, the way he handles himself, the way others respect him.

“We think that is very important. Everyone knows his journey because he is ages with some of them. He knows a hell of a lot of them. They appreciate what he has done and achieved.

“Some of those boys have gone to big clubs and stayed there. But Andy was told he was probably not going to be good enough for that particular big club. All of a sudden he is the one who’s come to the forefront.

“You saw the respect the boys gave him today when the manager announced it. They were as pleased for him as anyone else. Charlie Mulgrew has been magnificent since we took over, even going to Mexico and Peru. It would haven easy for an experienced player to pull out.

“He did not do that. He came and led by example. He will play a big part in helping Andy get used to the role.

“It’s difficult because you have to bring all the players together and make sure they are happy.

“We have the mixture of young and old boys, we just felt we needed someone in they all look up to. There’s no doubt that’s what they do – we are chuffed for him.”