Scotland striker Chris Martin has revealed how he feels right at home among Derby’s Caledonian contingent.
Martin may have been born and raised in Suffolk and represented England at under-19 level but he will be as proud as anyone else if he pulls on the dark blue jersey when the Scots face world champions Germany in Dortmund on Sunday.
What has made life easier for Martin, who qualifies as his father is Scottish, is the group of compatriots on the books at County including former Dundee United frontman Johnny Russell and ex-Dundee player Craig Forsyth.
As he reported for international duty at the Scots’ training base at Mar Hall, the former Norwich attacker said: “Just to get here you need to be playing well for your club and I am lucky enough to play in a really good team at Derby.
“There are three of us in this Scotland squad myself, Craig Forsyth and Craig Bryson but there are also Johnny Russell and Paul Coutts.
“That’s a sizeable number of Scottish players so there is always a lot of banter.
“I think it has been a good thing for me to have guys like that around.
“Craig Bryson has been in quite a few Scotland squads so he has been able to show Craig Forsyth and myself the ropes, which helps a little bit,” added Martin, who earned his first cap in the friendly against Nigeria in May.
“I also know Steven Whittaker and Russell Martin from my time at Norwich and it is good to have familiar faces because, if you were coming in on your own, there might be some trepidation.
“You would then need to introduce yourself to everyone and get to know them and that takes time.”