Ronaldo to be unleashed on Scotland as Roberto Martinez scoffs at rest suggestion for Portuguese 'icon'

Ronaldo came off the bench to score a late winner when the two sides faced off in Lisbon last month

Roberto Martinez insists he’s ready to unleash Portugal ‘icon’ Cristiano Ronaldo on Scotland.

Tuesday's Hampden kick-off comes just 72 hours after the goalscoring great dragged his 39-year-old legs through an hour of Saturday’s 3-1 win over Poland in Warsaw. That was enough time, though, for the former Manchester United and Real Madrid legend to extend his record-breaking international haul as he buried goal No133.

Three days on and Portugal are back in action against Steve Clarke’s men. But boss Martinez insists the famously obsessive fitness freak Ronaldo will be ready to go again at Hampden. That will send a shudder down the spines of the Tartan Army, who saw the five-time Balon d’Or winner pop up to score a last-gasp winner when the teams met in last month’s Nations League clash in Lisbon. Martinez shrugged of suggestions Ronaldo’s veteran status might see him rested against the Scots. He said: “I think the age of a player doesn't come to play. Ronaldo doesn't work as a 39-year-old player.

“He doesn't play certainly as a 39-year-old player. I think we are assessing every player and how they feel. Cristiano has been working really well in this camp. I think the difficulty of playing two games away from home is more how can you prepare between the two games. How can you recover with the players?

“We have got 26 players. That was the decision we could use. We will have a team to start the game, a team to finish the game. And then even another group of players that can come in in the second game. So I am confident that we can carry on adding information.

"But I have no doubt that Cristiano after 60 minutes can be involved in the second game. I don't know if he can start or if he can finish the game. But he can certainly be involved as he showed in the last camp.”

Martinez was speaking before putting his team through their paces at St Mirren’s SMISA Stadium. News of their visit brought hundreds of fans flocking to Paisley in the hope of catching a glimpse of CR7 and his boss can understand why.

He said: “When you arrive in a stadium, in a place like this, I think you get to know the iconic figure and the career of a player that is unique. There is not another player with more than 200 caps at international level. It's an example. The number of goals that he scored, the trophies that he achieved.

“So I think for me it's very easy to manage a player that can help the team to win tomorrow. All the rest is something for all of us to enjoy because it's a unique case and I think we can all learn from being close to him.”

Former Motherwell midfielder Martinez was given a warm greeting from his former Fir Park team-mate Keith Lasley, now Saints CEO, as he rolled up in Paisley. But he admits the family of his Scottish wife Beth might not be so pleased to see him.

“I think we are in a period of respectful silence,” joked the former Belgium boss. “Now it is the fifth time we are playing against each other. I think we got into the compromise. They are going to be wearing the kilt and the Portuguese top. So I think I am quite happy now! It has been easy.”

Martinez has huge respect for a Scotland side that pushed his team all the way at the Stadium of Light last month before clinching a 2-1 win. And he’s adamant too that the Tartan Army should be careful before calling for Hampden boss to pull the plug on under-fire boss Steve Clark.

Asked if he had sympathy for the Scotland gaffer, he said: “Absolutely. It is a difficult press conference for me to show sympathy when tomorrow I want to win the game.

“But absolutely, I think Scotland has come up with a formula of a high energy game. A team that has a lot of quality and to get that mixture is very difficult. But now you have high quality players in any central position. A team that takes very little to score goals, as we saw in Lisbon.

“They are a team very well organised in dead ball situations, quick counter-attacks. And then you have the quality of players like Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, that they got a real excellent final pass. So I have no doubts. Steve Clarke is building something very special.

"He already achieved a very successful team, qualified for the European Championship. And now it feels that it is almost a new cycle. And the results will come if the performances stay at this level.”

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