How Hendry's Saudi experience can help him stay cool in US heat

John McGinn was slathering on sun cream. T-shirt lines aplenty were on show. And the Scotland players were making a beeline for the sprinklers.

The humidity and heat hitting Inter Miami's training ground on Tuesday was not what most of these Scots were made for.

The barrels of ice being bundled to the side of the pitch and cold plunge tubs waiting for them at the end of their intense session was sweet relief for Steve Clarke's squad, who were tested to the max under the Miami sun.

One man who was less fazed, though, was Jack Hendry.

The defender has a head start of coping with such conditions having played in Saudi Arabia with Al Ettifaq for the past three years.

"Stay hydrated," is the top tip from the 31-year-old, who reiterated this squad's desire to be the first Scotland squad to progress beyond the group stages.

"It's about maintaining fluids, making sure you're very concentrated because you can lose a lot of sweat in the humidity.

"The game can be a little bit different because you maybe can't run about as much, getting tired very quickly and energy going from you, so it definitely impacts."

They call this place the Sunshine State for a reason. It beats down with a fierce intensity, allowing little air to puncture it... until a fierce thunderstorm hits.

Such sweltering conditions were exactly what Clarke wanted, though, as he stressed the importance of "acclimatising" this week to the conditions his squad will face throughout their tournament.

The Scots start against Haiti (Sunday, 14 June, 02:00 BST) - live across the BBC - and also play Morocco in Boston, before returning to Miami to face Brazil on Wednesday, 24 June (23:00).

"It maybe would have been a shock if we had came out to the Miami game because it hits you as soon as you come off the plane, the humidity and the heat," Hendry told BBC Scotland at the team's hotel in Fort Lauderdale.

"So it's good that we can come out here for this week, prepare and get used to it and I'm sure that will put us in really good stead going into the game."

Water breaks will be in operation, and Hendry stressed the importance of "using them efficiently".

"They're certainly going to help us from a recovery point of view, but maybe tactical. as well," he said.

"I'm accustomed to it in Saudi; we have these water breaks and it might disrupt the rhythm of the game a wee bit, but from the players' point of view it definitely helps."

By the time the Scots return south following back-to-back games in Boston, it could be they have already done what no other Scotland side have by reaching the knockout stages of a World Cup.

It's undoubtedly the aim for this talented, together squad, but they're not looking too far ahead. They're still Scottish after all.

"It's just trying to get as far as possible, I think," Hendry said of what success for the country looks like this summer.

"It's difficult to look too far ahead. The main ambition is going to be trying to get out of the group. Then we see where we can go afterwards.

"We can't look too far ahead, just take it game by game and if we do that, enjoy it and play the best we can, then we should be able to achieve that.

"We've got to make the most of it and make sure we don't come out of this with any regrets."