Robert Snodgrass aiming to become the villain

Robert Snodgrass is determined to go one better than Kenny Miller, and reach a major tournament's finals before retiring. Picture: SNS

Miller, the 33-year-old Vancouver Whitecaps striker called time on his international career following his goal in the 3-2 friendly defeat by England at Wembley last month never having experienced the business end of a World Cup or a European Championships.

Snodgrass is just about to turn 26 and has time on his side, but, with the Scots having failed to reach the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil next summer, he will have to look at the 2016 European Championships for his first invite to the top table of international football.

Ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Belgium at Hampden Park on Friday night, which is followed by an away trip to Macedonia, the Norwich forward was asked if there was fear of missing out like Miller.

“Yes,” he said. “And I would hate to say that. As an individual you can only do as much as you can in each match, but it’s a team game.

“Kenny Miller had a terrific Scotland career, he won so many caps and he was a joy to play with.

“So it was very unfortunate for him that he never got the chance but, hopefully, as young men, we can try to build a very successful time under Gordon Strachan.

“In terms of not being able to qualify [for Brazil], that takes a little bit of the pressure off.

“But there is a pressure on yourself as an individual because you are always judged differently from club level, to see if you can take it into international level and, as of yet, we haven’t done that.

“We haven’t qualified for a major competition in a while and, personally, I would love to do that.”

Snodgrass is confident that there is enough firepower in the current Scotland set-up to replace Miller, who scored 18 goals in his 69 appearances.

“We have players in the squad who can score goals,” said Snodgrass.

“Jordan Rhodes’ record speaks for itself.

“I’ve seen Leigh Griffiths do it since he was 16 and Steven Fletcher’s record in the Premier League is unbelievable.

“I played with Ross McCormack [at Leeds United] and he is one of the best players I have played with. We also have Jamie Mackie, so we have loads of players in the team who can score goals.”

However, it was Snodgrass’s goal against Croatia in June which inadvertently turned him into something of a cult hero in Belgium. Scotland’s shock 1-0 win in Zagreb allowed the Belgians to move three points clear of the Croats at the top of Group A and in pole position to qualify for Brazil as section winners and for that, Snodgrass has the gratitude of the Red Devils’ fans.

The former Livingston and Leeds player, though, is looking to turn villain on Friday night.

He said: “I have some crazy Belgians tweeting me, telling me I am a hero. I didn’t realise that.

“But you can easily become the villain.

“The eyes are on the prize and we have a massive game against a very good side with some top talent.

“So, hopefully, we can build on the Croatia game.

“We won’t worry too much about the Belgians the same way we didn’t worry too much about the Croatians.

“Belgium will now know that we won’t be pushovers.”