Top 100 Quotes & Sayings by Robert Snodgrass

I'll say to you truthfully - I don't want be away from my three kids, but I'm here because I love playing for Scotland.

You want to have a great pre-season, you want to play games.

I had some dark days, but not once did I think I wouldn't play again - it was just a case of what sort of level I'd get back at. Would I get back to where I wanted to be?

I learned a lot in my last year at Livingston and even more since coming to Leeds, as a player and on the sports science side.

It has never been about me. That's not the way I am. With Scotland, it has always been about the squad, the lads who were trying to get some big results to start the Euro 2020 campaign, rather than lads who were away from it, who people didn't know the truth about.

When I had other things to deal with in my personal life, people were telling me to come and play for Scotland. So I'd come but then not play. I'd prefer people just to be honest with me and say whether they really want me there or just as a back-up.

I'm just delighted to get on the scoresheet.

My future doesn't lie in the hands of Neil Warnock, it's in the hands of Robert Snodgrass.

I've scored goals, created goals everywhere I've been.

Sometimes , with the way you've been brought up, you try to just put your heart on your sleeve and play anywhere.

I went away with Scotland because I was trying to get some game-time somewhere but it just wasn't working out with Scotland, the results weren't happening.

The first thing I remember was going up to Celtic Park to watch Celtic, feeling the full effect of the stadium. When you see the players on the park for the first time, you get sucked in and it's like a dream.

When you lose games against Slovakia and England, you're going to get the criticism that goes with it.

At club level you have a lot of lads getting paid and stuff like that, but you would play for your country just for the love of playing for your country. That's the truth, for me anyway.

There are loads of things you can sit and assess but it does come down to one match at a time. This game does speak for itself.

The scaffolders and builders from demolition companies nearby used to play each other for 20 quid a man - the tackles were mad. I played for the local estate against them one day and we won, there was a full-scale riot. 'He's a ringer' they were saying. Half of them were drunk so I could get the ball and just run and around them - I was only 12!

Me and my two brothers painted a football pitch and used the net from scaffolding for goals with bits of wood, although they were burnt down in the end.

To get the best out of any player you need to play him in his best position, it's as simple as that.

Since I've been in England, I feel that lots of people are always asking: 'Can he handle it?'

A massive thank you also goes to everyone at the SFA for looking after me since I was a young boy, including Frank Reilly, Doc McLean, Jonesy, managers, coaches, staff, the physios, massage therapists, kit men and the media staff I've worked with over the years.

I understand when results don't go well, it gets broken down and people blame whoever. You've got to take the good with bad.

I've got a job to do for the team, trying to create and score goals and work hard.

It's been such a special feeling pulling on that Scotland jersey since I was 16 years old.

There are many stages, but the first step is an absolute given - the fans want blood, sweat and tears for the badge. That is no different in any workplace.

I think I probably would have gone into stand-up.

I enjoyed every second at West Ham with the lads and the staff.

I've seen Graeme Jones getting absolutely crucified and I'm thinking, 'You've got it wrong,' He's one of the best things that's happened to the SFA. He's one of the main guys trying to drive the nation forward.

As a Scotsman, my accent can sometimes be difficult for people to understand.

On the international scene you travel away, come back, feel sluggish and it's very difficult, so my decision was so that I could save myself for West Ham. I know Scotland fans won't like that, but they needed a young, fit, energetic lad to come in there.

It's nice to be recognized and rewarded if people in the game think you are making an impact.

When you have kids you sometimes have to do things you don't want to but every single thing I do is for my family.

I was young and naive. I didn't have the advice I have now and made mistakes. I didn't understand it was about attitude as well as ability.

I wish we could get back to those days, just let kids go and play and enjoy themselves on the streets instead of at academies too young.

I had a very rough upbringing.

It really hurt me when there was this perception that I didn't want to play for Scotland. I was fuming, absolutely gutted.

I relish going to places such as Stamford Bridge.

When I started going to see Celtic, it was just before Henrik Larsson signed. We used to try to skip into the games. You would stand outside, waiting for someone who had a spare ticket and then give him the wee puppy eyes in the hope he'd give it to you!

There's always that element in the back of my head, thinking if it's meant to be I'll play for Celtic one day.

I don't want to think about losing, only winning.

There's been many highs throughout my international career which I'll always remember with fondness, including my debut against Northern Ireland, winning two international player of the year awards, and my hat-trick in Malta.

You have your heart on your sleeve when you play games, but playing for your country is special, you dream about it as a wee boy.

It would be great to play in a Scotland side that defeated England. That could be another box ticked off for me.

I've been brought up with a family that is patriotic and loved the Scotland-England games so to see it first hand when we played down there at Wembley and lost 3-2, with goals from set pieces, it was hard to take.

I need to give a special mention to Declan Rice, I think he's going to go to the top.

I trained at Celtic when I was a kid. I used to train at Rangers as well. I wore my Celtic shorts underneath my Rangers shorts when I trained there!

It was always my intention to go with a smaller club. I reckoned I'd get more of a chance.

My first Premier League goal against Palace, I caught it on the bounce and reversed it across the 'keeper.

I went to West Ham and I had a manager that played me out of position. To be honest with you it was very tough to take.

You see a lot of depression among injured sports stars who would rather be reaching their goals or at least doing what they love doing.

I think you go through a stage where you're constantly asking questions because you're learning every day, and when it's like that you need to bring results with it.

Luckily, I have a thing inside me that I wake up and I am happy every day. But boys and girls want to live the dream and are looking at everything you do on a day-to-day basis.

I'd love to get into the Premier League with Leeds.

I was a fan like everybody else, even before I got called up for Scotland.

People have questioned my commitment to Scotland but it's actually the opposite. My problem is I can never say no.

My mum has had heart-attacks, a stroke, and it all coincided with me being called up for Scotland so the timing was not good. Thankfully, she is a great woman.

I'll keep going. That's one thing about myself - I'll roll my sleeves up and keep going.

I've played at the top level for years now and know it's the small percentages that matter. That's what the difference is between you getting to a major tournament or not.

Football is still the most important thing. It keeps me focused and driven every day and that takes me on to be the best dad, son, and friend.

Coaches from Celtic actually came to my door but I wasn't interested. I thought I'd get lost in the system. I wasn't ready for it.

There is a different sort of edge when you come up against England. Even when it's a friendly game you still get that fear in you that if you get beat it won't be good but if you win it will be the best thing going.