Barry Robson is eager to extend cap career despite Canada move Published on Thursday 24 May 2012 00:18 BARRY Robson believes his imminent move to Major League Soccer could help him emerge as a key weapon in Scotland's armoury when they look to get their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign off to a flying start next season. The 33-year-old midfielder passed up the chance to win his 18th cap for his country in this weekend's friendly against USA in Florida, choosing instead to sit his SFA "A" licence coaching course in Largs. Robson will move to Vancouver Whitecaps in July but is keen to dispel any notion he is simply winding down his career in preparation for the transition to management. He has informed Scotland manager Craig Levein of his willingness and desire to remain part of the national team in their bid to make it to Brazil. "I feel I've still got a lot to offer," said Robson. I've just finished another season in the English Championship, one of the most physically demanding leagues in the world, and got the Player of the Year award at Middlesbrough. So I must be doing something right. I still feel fine and definitely feel I can still play for my country. The MLS season runs from March to November, so I'll probably be fitter than everyone else when the Scotland games come around. You don't get qualifiers over that winter period when the MLS shuts down, so it could all work out fine for me. I know there are younger players coming into the Scotland squad and I don't want to stop that. Craig Levein wouldn't let that happen anyway. But Kenny Miller, myself and a few of the other older lads will still be wanting to play. If my country ever needs me, it doesn't matter where I am in the world, I will jump on a plane and head back as soon as I get the call. Robson revealed he discussed his move to Vancouver with Levein, as well as explaining his reasons for missing this week's trip to Florida with the national squad. "I called Craig and said "Look, I'm not presuming I would be in your Scotland team, but I want to do the coaching course and I won't get another chance to do it for three years." He said it was totally the right thing for me to do. He was brilliant with me and I respect his views. Robson admits the greatest motivation for his relocation to Canada is the quality of life it will offer his wife and their three children, even though he himself has yet to set foot in Vancouver for the first time. "I've not been out there yet, but my wife has been out with my eldest daughter and she's happy," said Robson. If they're happy I'm happy. It's a leap into the dark in a sense but I've looked at photos and spoken to people and my wife said it was a different planet. If you ask anyone who's been they will say it's the right thing to do. If my wife had said she didn't fancy it, I wouldn't have gone. My wife and kids have travelled with me and this is something really big for my wife. She wanted it and it was time to listen to her and not just be me, me, me. I think sometimes family life is more important than anything else and I have to look after my wife and children. It would have had a bearing if Craig Levein had said going to Vancouver would affect my Scotland career, definitely, but he's not like that. I know I'm not getting any younger but let's see where this takes me. It's a new lifestyle, a new challenge, everything. I'm looking forward to experiencing a new culture and if I'm going to become a manager and a coach one day, that will help. But the biggest thing is for my children. My wife went out and saw the schools, the area we are going to live and it's night and day. If you get that kind of opportunity to do that why wouldn't you take it? Expectations of Robson at Vancouver will be high, joining as he does as one of their Draught Pick (DP) players allowed at MLS clubs outwith the normal salary cap, a rule introduced five years ago to accommodate David Beckham's arrival at LA Galaxy. "There's only about the £200 million of a difference between the two of us," smiled Robson. It's a whole different thing with David Beckham but going to Vancouver as a DP player is a big thing for me. You get players on a salary cap and three players you can take outwith that. They have invested in me and I need to pay them back. It's going to be a big bit of pressure when I get there.