I went through torture to play for Scotland

It’s clear Scotland gave England a real footballing lesson.

You might be surprised to read me saying that at the end of a week when Roy Hodgson’s team wiped the floor with the Scots at Celtic Park.

But I can’t help feeling that England’s players, probably for the first time in a long time, have been taking a close interest in the performances of Gordon Strachan’s men.

The way the Scots have gone about their business in recent months has made people sit up and take notice. I don’t think the 3-1 defeat should make much difference to Scotland.

They won the game that really mattered to them that tremendous battle against Ireland. And having watched that match, the England players knew what they had to do.

They played with a pace and intensity we’ve rarely seen from them. Adding that power to their game meant they were able to outclass a tired Scotland side.

You have to wonder why the English lads don’t perform like that more often. They’re cruising through their Euro qualifiers, but they had a desperately disappointing World Cup and rarely produce performances that excite the fans.

We often hear accusations that many of them aren’t too bothered about playing for their country. That’s something I find very hard to understand.

Back in November, 1979, I was prepared to go through torture to represent Scotland.

I’ve always had a weak chest and had suffered a bout of pneumonia the previous year. It was an illness that took a long time to shake off. Two or three times a week I went to a hospital in Ipswich and would have fluid removed from my chest. Nurses would pummel my back until my tubes were clear. It was pretty rough treatment.

But it was well worth it when I was picked to play for the Scotland Under-21 side to face Belgium. With over-age players Andy Ritchie and Gordon Strachan in the ranks, we recorded a 1-0 victory in Beveren. It was probably my best performance in a dark-blue shirt. I was never going to let a bit of pneumonia stop that happening. I’d have walked to Belgium to play for my country.

I know times have changed and players feel a responsibility to the clubs who pay them astronomical wages, but the sense of pride I felt playing for Scotland was something money could never buy.

Maybe the England players will reflect on the satisfaction they took from getting stuck in and powering their way to victory over Scotland. If I was Roy Hodgson, I’d regularly be reminding them of what they achieved with some old-fashioned grit and determination.

The England fans should remember the inspiration that came from Scotland.