HE might not have been getting the same headlines as eye-catching teammates like David Turnbull over the last year or so, but Allan Campbell could well beat him to a Scotland cap, with manager Stephen Robinson tipping him to be the next Motherwell star to earn international recognition.

The midfielder has been a stand-out for the Fir Park side in their impressive start to the campaign so far and has also been a mainstay of Scot Gemmill’s Scotland under-21 side in their unbeaten start to their European Championships qualifying group.

Through speaking to Gemmill and national team manager Steve Clarke, Robinson knows that both men hold him in as high regard as he does, and should he be the next Motherwell player to earn a call-up for the senior side, his manager believes it will be no more than the model professional deserves.

READ MORE: Davie Hay: Livingston defeat would have given Kristoffer Ajer a gentle reminder of Celtic demands

“Wee Allan was my biggest concern [during the international break] because he plays that many minutes at that kind of intensity, but he’s come back unscathed and we’ve looked after him this week,” Robinson said.

“He plays so many minutes and he plays at such an intensity, and it shows that Scotland value him just as highly as we do.

“I’ve had conversations with both Scot and Steve and they both rate him very, very highly.

“We’re delighted he’s doing well. We know how to manage Al, he has to play fresh and we’ve looked after him training-wise this week. He hasn’t done a whole lot, so he’ll be raring to go on Saturday.

“You try to give Allan a day off and he doesn’t want a day off. With his enthusiasm, you sometimes just have to pull him back a wee bit for his own good in term of training, but I think we’ve got it spot on.

“He’s always in the gym first thing and that’s just a lifestyle thing, and he’s not trying to impress anyone with that, that’s just what he does.

“We say to all of our young players here, latch onto Allan Campbell, latch onto Barry Maguire, latch onto those boys like Richard Tait and Liam Grimshaw who are in there every day and are the last ones off the training pitch.

“Allan is the poster boy from our club, that’s how you make it in football. And a lot of people are now taking notice of him.

READ MORE: Kilmarnock's safe standing section at Rugby Park delayed

“When you score goals, you get the headlines, but people in the know in football know what Allan Campbell offers to our team. He’s an important part of what we do.

“Scot and Steve have taken notice of him at international level, and I think he’s right on the verge of things there.

“He’s a manager’s dream. He gives you no hassle. If you leave him out of the team, he just stares at you and thinks ‘I’ll prove you wrong’.

“When he plays he gives one hundred percent. He’s a pleasure to work with.”

Robinson didn’t return to a fully fit squad this week though with Jake Carroll and Mark O’Hara both doubts for today’s game against Aberdeen at Fir Park after picking up niggles during the international break. Liam Donnelly serves the second match of his suspension after being sent off against St Johnstone.

Meanwhile, Niall McGinn is hoping Aberdeen can get over a recent shaky spell by getting back on track in Lanarkshire.

“We know Motherwell are in form, they’re playing well and it’s going to be a very difficult game,” McGinn said.

“But it’s a game, over the years of going down there, where we’ve picked up good results.

“We know it’s going to be tough with the injuries we have but we’ve definitely got the squad of players who can come in and stake a claim.

“We just need to get back to winning ways as quickly as possible.”