Andy Robertson may like to sing about the Gambler, but Scotland will be taking no chances by playing him against world champions Germany.
Robertson is odds-on to fill the left-back role when the Scots line up in Dortmund on Sunday night in the opening game of their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.
The former Dundee United man had already established himself in the national team by the time he went down to Hull City and the bright lights of the Barclays Premier League.
Accomplished displays for his country against first Poland and then Nigeria ensured Scots boss Gordon Strachan will see him as a safe bet for the Westfalenstadion.
Robertson is hoping to be on song for Scotland again this weekend after belting out Kenny Rogers’ country classic on his arrival at the KC Stadium from Tannadice.
“I had to sing again as part of my initiation at Hull,” he said. “I think that is four times in three years now for me and that’s the down side of joining a new club or getting a call-up.
“My song isn’t one you would expect, I guess. My choice has been Kenny Rogers’ the Gambler because it’s a nice easy song and the boys all clapped along when I got to the second verse, so it wasn’t too bad.
“Indeed, everything has gone smoothly in terms of moving club and I am delighted with the way things have gone.
“It was the same at United last summer. I didn’t expect to go up there and go straight into the team.
“So I just went down to Hull, trained hard and luckily the manager Steve Bruce put me in.
“It is another step up. There is a quicker tempo and there are a lot of things I still need to work on.
“We played Stoke City last week and we played 80 mins with 10 men, and it is the hardest game I have ever played in, just with the physical demands on you.
“I need to work on my overall game and I don’t think I am anywhere near the complete article that I feel I can be.
“Everything I get praised for I can still work on and get better and I need to improve my heading, weak foot and even my defending and going forward, basically.
“Indeed, I wouldn’t say you ever get comfortable. Maybe once you are a bit more down the line but if you felt that then something isn’t right as you should always be challenging yourself.
“I don’t think I’ll every get really comfortable because hopefully I will keep adapting.
“I’ve got two caps and I have enjoyed them both. It is a pleasure representing your country this is what every boy dreams about.”
Robertson may like to tell everyone they have to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em however, there won’t be any quitting by the Scots on Sunday night, despite the class of the opposition.
“We are in for a tough test because they are the world champions,” he said. “However, we have come a long way in the last 18 months as a Scotland team.
“We will go into the game and try to play our own game.
“You want to test yourself against the best, but we are a lot more confident than we would have been in the past.
“I don’t think there is any good time to play Germany but we are all looking forward to it.
“They are world champions and this is their first competitive game since the final.
“We will just stick to the way we want to play and see how it goes on the night.”
Robertson recalled the summer night in the middle of the Republic of Ireland when he realised just how special the Germans were.
He was with his then United team-mates playing a friendly against Athlone Town, a game that ended in a goalless draw.
There was much more drama in Brazil, however, as the host nation were hammered 7-1 by Joachim Low’s side in a historic World Cup semi-final.
“I watched the final against Argentina at the flat in Dundee but I missed the semi-final because of our match in Ireland.
“I played the first half, but was on the bench for the second and could hear the score coming through.
“It was 1-0, 2-0, 3-0 … I thought someone was winding me up.
“I have watched it back since and they were really, really good that night.”