Kevin Nisbet yesterday earned a re-call to the Scotland squad after a run of five goals in six games saw him catch the eye of national team manager Steve Clarke.

The striker sat down with RedTV to react to his call-up and also opened up on how a change of mindset away from the pitch has seen an upturn in form on the pitch.

RedTV subscribers can watch in full now.

Scotland Call-Up

“It’s always an honour to be called up for your country, my family are proud.

“I always back myself, even this season when I have not been scoring or have not been playing well, I have always backed myself to go and score goals, I will be going there with the same mentality and the same mindset to go and do that.

“It’s amazing to play at Hampden, I’ve played there a few times at club level as well and a few times for Scotland, it’s great the atmosphere is so good. I think the atmosphere and the buzz around the fans makes it a great place to play.”

Hard Work Off the Pitch

“Coming to Aberdeen this season was always going to be a re-build for my career, last season I picked up too many injuries and couldn’t get myself going. This year I’ve come to Aberdeen to knuckle down, even when I wasn’t doing well, I was trying to get that consistency off the park, at the training ground and away from the training ground as well. I have been working an on mindset as well, I have been changing my mindset to have that consistency in my game and I think the fans are starting to see all of the hard work I’ve been putting in.

“It was a stop start pre-season for me, I wasn’t playing to much when I was at Millwall. I came to Aberdeen a bit behind everyone. I think at the end of last season I was out for around four months, so I didn’t have a run of games. I think my first 90 minutes was against Dunfermline. I have always been a player if I play 90 minutes week in, week out, that’s when you see the best of me, and the fans have seen that in the last five or six weeks.”

A Change of Mindset

“The manager has spoken recently about the extra work I’ve been doing at the training ground, it’s been a bit of everything (staying behind after training, gym work and analysis). I have focused more on gym work, and I’ve been coming in on days off. It is about consistency and changing my mindset to working everyday and getting myself feeling good and feeling fresh for games. I have been doing that, and I have felt better. I am 28 now and this is the fittest I’ve felt in my full career If I am being completely honest. I am doing more stretching, doing more in the mornings and I’ve been trying to keep my consistency and that mindset and keep doing more.

“Peter Leven has been great for me. After games he gives me that tough love as well, even if I’ve scored, he goes ‘you should’ve scored three’ or ‘you could’ve done this’ and I think that is what I need. I need someone to be on me all of the time to make me better and I feel it does, and he has been a lot of help behind the scenes.

“When I came back from my ACL at Hibs, I was quite fit, but I was still a bit immature if I am honest. I am 28 now and I think I’ve matured a lot off the pitch as well which has helped me in training and playing. Hopefully it continues and I can keep scoring goals.

“I feel the Scotland call-up is a reward for the work I’ve been putting in. If you do that then Steve Clarke is going to recognise you and thankfully, he has this time. The easy part is getting in the squad, the hardest part is staying there. For me it’s about going there, staying consistent, having a good mindset and just performing.”

Leadership

“The games I’ve started and played 90 minutes is the most that I’ve ran in games as well. The gaffer has given me more of a leadership role as well by talking to people or doing stuff on the park that a leader would do. It’s been great for me and my stats have been through the roof. It’s the most I’ve ever ran in my life; it’s probably why I am feeling fitter and why the goals are coming as well.

“Showing those leadership qualities does come naturally to me but it has happened over time. I’ve played more games; I’ve gotten more experience and gone to Scotland camps to see what these boys do. It has helped me to grow as a player and as a person as well. I try to help the younger lads like Fletcher Boyd when he came on, I tried to help to make sure he knew where he is because he might be nervous. When new lads have come in, I try to teach them the way that I’ve been taught since I came in as well. It has been good.”

An Important End to the Season

“We have got some massive games coming up, we have four games until the split. We have got the Semi-Final with Hearts at Hampden. We’re all looking forward to it. These are the times as players we need to step up and go and perform. We are getting to the end of the season where there is a lot to play for. We need to step up as players and go and finish the season strongly.”