From scaffolder to Premiership footballer in two years

Salim Kouider-Aissa says he is taking lessons from Scotland captain Andy Robertson as he continues his rapid rise through football’s hierarchy.

The striker – who was working as a scaffolder just two years ago – has joined Livingston after prolific spells with Kilsyth Rangers and Queen’s Park gave him a springboard to the top flight.

Liverpool star and national team icon Robertson famously played for Queen’s Park before rising to become a European and Premier League champion and his influence is still being felt at his old club.

“You’re training at Lesser Hampden and can see Andy Robertson’s face up on Hampden,” Kouider-Aissa said. “So you train and think ‘Could that be me one day?’.

“If you train and work hard, that’s what he did and look where he is now.”

The 24-year-old had unsuccessful spells in the lower league and Junior game and admits he was immature before finding his focus at Kilsyth.

Now he is set on making the most of his chance to impress with Gary Holt’s side and show he can cut it in the Premiership.

“It’s only two years ago I was still playing amateur for my local team while working as a scaffolder,” he said.

“That was my wake-up call. Without being big-headed, I realised I was better than the level I was playing at and that I can do better.

“I thought I would give it another crack and see where it takes me, give my full concentration to football.

“I just take a season at a time now. There’s no point in saying you’re going to be at Real Madrid next season. I said to myself a few years ago ‘Juniors next year’. Then it was my aim to get interest from the seniors, then to go full time.

“Sometimes when I’m coming in here I have to drive past the sites I had been working at. You need to pinch yourself.

“But I’m here for a reason and I just need to get the head down and work like I have been doing.”