Andy Robertson credits Steve Clarke with fixing 'broken' Scotland as he points to Tartan Army full house proof

From a half-empty Hampden to a National Stadium bursting at the seams.

That’s the measure by which Andy Robertson sums up Steve Clarke’s impact on this Scotland team. The skipper remembers a time when he would emerge from the Hampden tunnel to find the depressing sight of thousands of empty seats. It was such a dark period, the Liverpool ace admits he feared the bonds tying the national team to the Tartan Army might have reached breaking point.

But all that changed with Clarke’s appointment. Now four years on the proof that the nation has been united behind the gaffer and his squad can be counted with every click of the turnstiles for this week’s opening Euro qualifying double header with Cyprus and Spain. Both games are heading for sellouts and Robertson insists that is testament to the work done by the man yesterday rewarded with a new two-year extension.

“It’s great news for the whole of the country,” beamed the captain. “I think Scotland fans have taken to the gaffer from day one.

“Yeah, we’ve had some tough moments but he’s made massive improvements to the squad and behind the scenes as well. We knew we had one more campaign with him but it’s great to extend that to the next two.

“He believes he can take us even further and make more improvements still - and we believe that too. I think he’s brought stability first and foremost. And he’s engaged again with the Scotland fans. He’s set us up in a way that the players and the fans can have a relationship again.

“Before he came in again, the relationship was broken. I don’t think there were many people excited to come to Hampden. That’s proved with the attendances we’ve had. I’ve played here with only 10,000 or 12,000 fans for qualifying games.

“But the next two games