Jordan Archer has revealed he overcame a mystery virus that put him in hospital during a pre-season tour in America to take his place in the Scotland Under-21 team that drew with Slovakia on Thursday.
The Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper made a string of good saves but could not prevent a last-minute equaliser that ended the Scots' hopes of qualifying for the 2015 European Championship.
The 1-1 draw in Senec is likely to mark Archer's final appearance for Billy Stark's side. He will be too old for the next campaign and, with his team out of contention, Stark is likely to give Jack Hamilton of Hearts a debut in Luxembourg on Monday night.
However, Archer, who is on loan at Northampton Town until January, is pleased just to be fighting fit again.
He said: "I was so disappointed when I picked up the virus because it was only Brad Friedel and I who were out there as Hugo Lloris was coming back from the World Cup.
"I would have got quite a lot of game time, but unfortunately I picked up the virus on the second night. It was a massive frustration.
"I had a headache during the day that I put down to dehydration because it was so hot. I took a couple of paracetamol but then I woke up at 2 am and couldn't move; I was totally wiped out.
"Thankfully, the doctor recognised a few of the symptoms and took me to hospital. They did some tests and I spent four nights there. They looked after me well though; I had top-class treatment.
"It was a bit scary as I've never had anything like that before but they reassured me from the start I would be all right. I just needed to take the medication and have some rest and I would be back. I had good staff and good support around me.
"I was off for a couple of weeks and didn't get back to full training until mid-August. I'm so used to being active that I was itching to play, always banging on the docs' and coaches' doors asking if I could train but I had to be patient.
"I was just unlucky. Pre-season is always a tough time as your body goes from holiday mode to being put under stress."
Archer is out of contract at White Hart Lane at the end of the season. While he has been sent out on loan again - Archer had a spell at Wycombe Wanderers two seasons ago - Mauricio Pochettino, the new Tottenham manager, has taken the time to reassure him he still has a future at the club, even though he has Lloris and Michel Vorm ahead of him, along with Freidel, who has just signed a new contract at the age of 43.
Archer said: "All the players like him. He did well at Southampton and he's really hands on and a good guy. He's honest, which is all you can ask for, and he's getting results. He has spoken to me and said some good things about going out and getting more experience and the likes. Obviously, you have Hugo at the club, Michel has joined, and there's Brad coming to the end of his career.
"Obviously they are top goalkeepers while I'm still young. The manager told me to go and get some more experience that will stand me in good stead.
"Brad is one of a kind. He has kept fit by doing yoga and all credit to him. It's great to have him to look up to. He has done it all in the game. It is always good picking his brain and he has been good to me too.
"I'm confident about the future at Spurs. I think I've done well enough to be offered something."
Archer spent the start of the week training with the full Scotland squad including his fellow goalkeepers Allan McGregor, David Marshall and Craig Gordon.
He said: "It's been an up-and-down campaign with the Under-21s. It was disappointing to miss out as we set out to qualify but football doesn't always go to plan.
"I really enjoyed training with the full squad. Jim Stewart told me what was going to be happening and I was buzzing for it. They were all sound and made me feel welcome. They were all firing shots at me and they were all class players. Luckily, I've been exposed to that sort of level in England so it wasn't new to me."
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