Interview Robert Snodgrass

The Scotland striker on spearheading his country’s attack with Steven Fletcher.

Robert Snodgrass shared one of his biggest disappointments in football on international duty with Steven Fletcher.

Now the pair are enjoying some of their greatest moments in their careers with Scotland, now that they spearhead Gordon Strachan’s attack.

Both players missed out on the chance to star in the Under-19s European Championships Final in Poland back in 2006 through suspension.

They were powerless to prevent Archie Gemmill’s young lions from losing 2-1 to a Spain side that included Gerard Pique, Juan Mata and Javi Garcia.

And Snodgrass admits the duo have come a long way since then, with Strachan pairing them up as a new-look Scotland attack.

“It felt bad that day and the two of us were absolutely devastated,” he recalled. “But we weren’t going to ruin the other players’ day and the lads were terrific.

“It wasn’t about us. What happened, happened and our next step was to wish the lads all the best and get right behind them.

“We just missed out in a 2-1 defeat to Spain, and actually spoke about it the other day, and how far we’ve come.

“Steven’s got a little family now and so have I, and different things like that which are all part of developing and growing up.

“The two of us have since gone to England, and have been scoring goals in the Premier League, and now we are playing together for Scotland.

“So it’s fantastic the way it has all worked out.”

‘Snoddy’ has occupied a different role than he was previously used to in recent international matches, with Strachan deploying him just off the striker.

He linked up well with Fletcher despite drawing a blank in the goalless draw with the United States at Hampden on Friday night.

And he explained: “It’s different because in the past I have always played on the wing, maybe crossing the ball in for him.

“I think it was something different against the Americans. I played with Stevie Naismith last time, and now Fletch has come in and I’ve played up front with him.

“It was new, sure. But if we are given that chance again, that will help us develop and find out more about each other. It’s also a new position for me so I need to try and adapt to it.”

Snodgrass goes back a long way with Fletcher, and is delighted to see him back playing for his country.

He said: “I remember playing against Fletch in boys club football. James McArthur and Graham Dorrans were in the same side as me. Fletch was the same back then always scoring goals!

“He’s just back from injury, and the manager is trying to bed him into the way he wants the team to work.

“How much has he been missed? Big Fletch’s goalscoring will always be missed. He’s a finisher and has proved that on several occasions.

“I think we’ve got to try and use that to our advantage sometimes. We’ve got a guy who can score goals in the top flight.

“But it’s also a team game and we’re all aware of that.”