Christie has Gannon-Doak's back for club and country

World Cup qualifying: Denmark v Scotland

Venue: Parken, Copenhagen Date: Friday, 5 September Kick-off: 19:45 BST

Coverage: Watch live on BBC Scotland, BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website & app, text updates on BBC Sport website & app, listen on BBC Radio Scotland & Sounds

Ryan Christie has had his fair share of duties at Bournemouth since joining four years ago. The latest addition to the CV? Translator.

Far from a routine role for a Scotsman, but Christie - who's covered near enough every midfield position for the Cherries - is one of the few in the changing room who can decipher what summer signing and Scotland team-mate Ben Gannon-Doak is saying.

The 19-year-old made the switch from Liverpool last month for a deal worth £25m and compatriot Christie confirms he is swiftly settled into his new surroundings. Even if there is a language barrier of sorts.

"[He's been] very loud straight away," Christie said of Gannon-Doak, who made his Cherries debut in the League Cup exit to Brentford last week before reporting for Scotland duty for the first World Cup qualifying match against Denmark on Friday - live on the BBC.

"A few of the boys have made comments that they realise my accent is a bit of a pretend Scottish one compared to his.

"I don't think anyone can understand a word he's saying to be honest down in Bournemouth! Maybe that's where I come in as the translator."

Although it might take a bit of time for his new club-mates to understand his tongue, Gannon-Doak's feet do enough talking to get him going.

The former Celtic youngster won over the hearts of the Tartan Army this time last year when he was flung in to try to salvage Scotland's Nations League campaign.

His gallus performances against top nations in Croatia, Poland and Portugal had him swimming in plaudits and, despite only having six caps to his name, he was already deemed a huge loss when he missed out on the Scots' two-legged play-off against Greece in March through injury.

A huge loss he was.

Among many things, Scotland were crying out for his blistering pace when they succumbed to a lousy relegation to League B.

However, as Bournemouth fans will learn, he does not simply put the blinkers on and bolt. He has an awareness, attitude and ability beyond his years.

"He's the kind of player that can change a game," 30-year-old Christie, who hit 100 Premier League appearances in Bournemouth's 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, said.

"He's the type of player, to be honest, that we probably don't make too many of in Scotland - a pacey, attacking winger.

"He's such a talented player who is so positive on the ball. A difference-maker.

"We need him in the international team. The fans have taken a liking to him because of how direct and how positive he is on the ball.

"He's in an environment here where we're only going to push that and try and help compliment him as a player.

"I'm sure he'll play his part over this campaign."

If Gannon-Doak - and some of his pals - do that, Scotland's chances of reaching a first World Cup finals since 1998 are much higher.

The bulk of Steve Clarke's squad were too young to remember the voyage to France - nine were not even born.

The oldest member of the current crop, 33-year-old Grant Hanley, was six when Craig Brown's boys opened the tournament against Brazil.

Which makes Christie - who expressed the emotions of a nation when he burst into tears on television when the Scots qualified for Euro 2020 - and his squad mates' desire to "tick the one thing left on the list" even fiercer.

"Everybody knows how desperate we are to qualify for a World Cup," 30-year-old Christie said.

"It's probably the one thing left that this generation of players want to do and tick off the list. It's the one thing that's missing.

"Not being able to remember Scotland at a World Cup, or Euros, puts a bit of extra fire behind you.

"I know how it felt as a kid watching Scotland not quite qualify and how gutting that was. We're trying to be the opposite of that."

Should the Scots succeed in their quest for qualification and end a 28-year wait for an appearance on the biggest stage of all, Christie is confident of one thing:

"[I'll be in] floods of tears again, I'm sure," he added. "Hopefully this time not on camera."