It was about as far removed from a Super Sunday as you can get for Andy Robertson and Scott McTominay.
But Scotland coach Steven Reid is confident there will be no Hampden hangover from the five-goal thrashings the pair suffered with their clubs.
In an unprecedented few hours of English Premier League football, first McTominay’s Manchester United were mauled 6-1 on their own Old Trafford pitch by Tottenham Hotspur and then there was another once-in-generation 7-2 defeat for champions Liverpool, who had Robertson in his usual left-back spot as it rained goals at Villa Park.
Thursday night’s Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Israel is up next for the duo and Reid has no concerns that there will be any lingering trauma.
“The last few weeks in general have been incredible with some of the scorelines and results,” said Steve Clarke’s assistant. “I’ve never witnessed or seen anything like it.
“It was just one of those bizarre weekends where the results are crazy.
“I’m sure once they come up and we all get together, it’ll be Scotland mode and we’ll all be looking forward to the three games we’ve got coming up.
“For me personally, it was easy to banish them. When I’ve been involved in international games as a player, you’ve put to bed your club form and results as soon as you head into camp. Luckily for those boys games are coming thick and fast, which is what you want after results like that.
“I’m sure they’ll be fine. There might be a bit of banter when we get together, then it will be concentrating for the first game.”
Robertson and McTominay are two of highest profile Scots playing their domestic football in England. Three men who have joined them – Scott McKenna, Lyndon Dykes and Oli Burke – have all advanced their cases to start against Israel with their performances for new clubs.
“Over the last few years, Oli has probably not played as much as he would have liked,” said Reid. “The loan moves he’s had, he’s been in and out of the team. He’s started the season at Sheffield United and put in back-to-back league starts, which he’s not done for a little while.
“Hopefully it’ll be a good move for him. There are a couple of lads in the Scotland squad as well that will ease the transition with that move and it’s good to see him get a lot of minutes under his belt.
“He can play a few different positions. He’s got that physicality, pace, power. He can do a variety of roles in those forward positions, which is useful. With the tools he’s got, it’s just a matter of time before he gets himself playing on a regular basis, delivering at club level and delivering with us also.
“Scott has gone from a big club in Aberdeen to a fantastic club in Nottingham Forest. It’s a big move for him. He’s played a lot of games for Aberdeen and gone into a totally different way of playing, with different challenges.
“I’ve played and worked in the Championship as coach. It’s relentless.
“Sometimes you do need that new challenge to get yourself freshened up and hopefully for Scott that’ll be the case. I’m sure with his mentality and ability, he’s going to be a great success for Nottingham Forest. Looking back at our last camp, he was fantastic in both games.”
On the impact Dykes has made on two fronts, Reid said: “He’s off the mark at QPR and he’s off the mark for us.
“He was confident when he came in and took that club form he’s shown in the last two years into those games.
“I really liked the way he conducted himself the last time he was here. He’s settled in straight away. Hopefully it’s a bright future for him, both at his club and more importantly at the moment to do the business for us.”
Leigh Griffiths hadn’t played enough football – any football – to justify a call-up for this camp but it could be a different story for the next one after the Celtic striker came back with a bang at McDiarmid Park on Sunday.
“It’s just about consistency,” said Reid. “It’s about playing games week in, week out. He’s found himself a lot of the time in, then out, then back in again. We all know the talent he has – finishing, the ability to get himself into positions where he is going to score goals. That is always something we’re going to need.
“It’s just about that fitness and consistency for Celtic and he’s a player that absolutely could play a part.”
You don’t usually get international triple-headers, far less home international triple-headers. Given the escalating Covid-19 infection rate across Europe, being based in their own country for the duration of this camp is to be welcomed by the Scotland management team.
“You can’t deny the fact at the moment, with certain travel restrictions and making sure protocols are in place at every location, it is a help,” said Reid. “It’s a shame it’s still behind closed-doors and it’s not a packed out Hampden.
“But it’s certainly of benefit to us that there’s not too much travelling after players have played games, which adds to the risks of injuries. Hopefully we can use that to our advantage.”
