George Hirst has described himself as more Peter Crouch than Neymar, but insists the Samba stars are there for the taking at the World Cup.
The 27-year-old Ipswich Town striker is part of Steve Clarke’s 26-man squad heading to America for the tournament, which begins for Scotland on June 24.
Scotland face Brazil in Miami, a prospect that has Hirst barely able to contain his excitement despite not being expected to start.
Clarke believes the powerful frontman can make an impact from the bench against Haiti, Morocco, or Brazil in the group stage next month.
Hirst has spoken openly about his admiration for Neymar while making clear the Brazilian superstar is not exactly his stylistic blueprint.
“But if any of you have watched me play, he’s not someone that I tend to model my game on,” Hirst said. “I’m probably more Peter Crouch than Neymar.”
Despite the self-deprecating humour, Hirst insists Scotland will not be overawed by whoever Carlo Ancelotti fields on the night.
“Whether it’s Neymar or anyone else, they’re there to get beat and that’s what we’ll be trying to do,” he said with confidence.
Born in Yorkshire to ex-Sheffield Wednesday striker David Hirst, George was a regular scorer in England youth teams as a teenager before switching international allegiances.
It was his Scottish grandfather Eric who shaped his identity, constantly reminding him from his earliest days kicking a ball that his future lay with Scotland.
“My grandad was constantly on about scoring a goal for Scotland, it was never anything else,” Hirst recalled with clear affection and pride.
Eric passed away when George was just six or seven years old, meaning he never got to watch his grandson play professional football.
“My grandad’s a constant inspiration for me,” Hirst said. “But having those little reminders and motivational things in my head makes me really proud.”
The family name carries deep significance for Hirst, who revealed his full name is George David Eric Hirst, honouring both his father and grandfather directly.
His father David, who never made a World Cup himself, will be cheering Scotland on with full enthusiasm, possibly in a pub with Scotland flags and tops on display.
Hirst learned of his World Cup selection while playing golf in Portugal, finding out approximately 45 minutes before the public announcement was made.
The news completely derailed his round, with Hirst making a double bogey after having a putt for birdie at the precise moment his excitement became impossible to contain.
“I was running around letting everybody know that I’d been picked,” he said, describing the scenes on the course with obvious delight.
Hirst has been taking up hot-pod yoga alongside his golf to prepare his body for the intense heat the squad will face in the United States.
Even as recently as last week, the striker was struggling to fully believe the World Cup was real until he joined Clarke’s squad in Glasgow.
“As soon as I got here, I knew it was real and go time,” he said. “I can’t express how happy I am to be here.”
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