John Souttar has revealed there wasn’t a dry eye in the house when flat-mate Andy Robertson received his Scotland call-up on Wednesday.
That’s because there were tears of laughter all round following youth keeper Joe McGovern’s emotional reaction to the news.
There are four of the United youngsters sharing the accommodation with the quartet being completed by Ryan Gauld, and Souttar admitted that once the giggling had died down it really sunk in exactly what 19-year-old Robertson had achieved in his first season of full-time football after leaving Queen’s Park.
The big centre-half said: “Obviously, it is brilliant for Andy. I was there in the flat when he got the call and Joe McGovern was nearly in tears he was so proud of him. It was embarrassing and we were all just laughing at him!
“He was an emotional wreck when Andy came off the phone. Joe was going around hugging everybody.
“Seriously though, it is great for Andy as he has deserved it and it is an inspirational story for everyone who wants to make a career out of football. It shows you should never give up on your dreams.
“He was working in a job, playing part-time football last year in the Third Division and now he has had a call-up to the Scotland squad.
“I knew he had the ability and would play for Scotland one day but being so soon is just brilliant for him. It will be a great experience for him and fingers crossed he will get on.
“Andy is only 19 but he has been given a chance. It makes you think that it really could be one of us one day.
“No-one deserves it more but I don’t think he really expected it. We had been asking him about it but he was still shocked when he got the call. He has been getting a bit of banter and stick from the lads in the dressing-room but I am sure he will take that in his stride.”
Souttar and Gauld were given an enforced sunshine holiday on manager Jackie McNamara’s orders last month in a bid to recharge the youngsters’ batteries.
The two teenagers took a bit of flak from Robertson, who was left shivering in Scotland but Souttar believes the break has reaped dividends.
The 17-year-old said: “Andy is older than us so he didn’t need a break! He was giving us a bit of stick for that but I think it has helped us.
“We have come back and we are feeling refreshed so it has helped. Before we went away, it was weird as you were wanting your body to do stuff but it just wasn’t happening.
“I think both our performances had dropped, mine in particular. There just wasn’t the spark that was there beforehand but we are getting it back slowly but surely.
“Overall, I think I have done all right this season. Some games I have been OK and others I have been poor.
“It is all about learning and going through matches, playing against different strikers and coping with the pressures of football. It is great I am doing that at such a young age as well.”
That learning curve will continue against Motherwell tonight when Souttar, fitness permitting, will try to contain the Steelmen’s dangerous striker John Sutton.
He added: “I have faced players like John a good few times now. I have a bit of experience of playing against target men like that. The more you play them, the more you get used to them so it is good. I still need to improve on a lot of things, including being better in the air.
“I am putting the hours in on the training ground trying to improve all the time. I don’t think anyone is the finished article at 17 but I will just try to get better.”