WHEN Andy Robertson handed a programme to Vincent Kompany as a young kid helping out at Hampden, he might have thought the brief meeting would only have left an impression on one of the parties. But how wrong he would be.

The Belgian superstar reflected on that night five years ago at Scotland’s national stadium after playing there on Friday evening, and he reflected too on the journey Robertson has taken from helper to captain of his country in that relatively short space of time.

And the Manchester City man has been more than impressed by the left-back, who he will now compete with for the English Premier League title this season.

“Funnily enough I do remember meeting him here a few years ago so it is nice to him doing so well now,” Kompany said. “A few people have mentioned it over the years. I don’t know why but I just remembered.

“Sometimes when you see people you remember their face and you remember the moment. He probably doesn’t know this, but I did remember him.

“Most of us in football have come from humble backgrounds. Whatever way you get there it is always good when someone makes it.

“Andy is now playing to such a high level with Liverpool and now he is captain of his country. He has come a long way in a short space of time. I think he is a great example. If you look at every single club you will find a lot of young lads coming through who used to be ball boys.

“If you are in the world of football then there is a chance for you to do well. If you have workrate and desire and ability like him then it is not so much of a surprise."

It is perhaps no surprise though that Kompany does recall that earlier encounter in Mount Florida, having kept close tabs on him in the intervening period through personally signing him for his virtual team.

“I knew of him when he was playing in Scotland even before he joined Hull City,” he said. “I play Football Manager so I was well aware of him.

“I actually signed him back then because good left backs are hard to come by! I took a gamble on him but it paid off.”

Kompany also had words of praise for another Scot, Shaun Maloney, who has recently joined Roberto Martinez’s coaching staff with the Belgian national side, although he said it had perhaps been a struggle for him to hide his allegiances in the first match since he joined the Red Devils.

“Shaun has come in and not really shown that this game was more special than any other, but I could tell it was,” he said.

“It was a good start for him. He was on the right side today.

“It was a satisfying night for us. We have some new players and it was good for them to adapt to our system.

“It was a good game in nice conditions and on a very good pitch.”