JAMES Morrison has been in this position with Scotland before – on a run of form which has put them on the cusp of sealing a place in the finals of a major tournament at long last.
But on both of those occasions, in the South Africa 2010 and Euro 2016 qualifying bids, it was the usual sorry story of bitter disappointment and agonising failure by the end.
Morrison, the West Brom midfielder who knows that, at the age of 31 he will not have many more opportunities to be involved with his country at either a World Cup or European Championship, believes he can use the experience he gained in those ill-fated attempts to his advantage now.
He is almost certain to be selected by Gordon Strachan in a Russia 2018 qualifier against Slovakia at Hampden tomorrow evening which the national team needs to win in order to keep their hopes of finishing second in Group H and securing a play-off spot alive.
The 45-times capped player, who will either be deployed in central midfield of further forward just off a lone striker, is determined to triumph in that outing, then against Slovenia in Ljubljana on Sunday and close it out this time around.
“I think we have good momentum,” said Morrison. “Results do that. Wins breed confidence and performances. We’re in a good place. In the last campaign we started well and faded so hopefully it’s reversed.
“We were in the same place when we played Poland at Hampden in the last campaign. We nearly did that (an injury-time Robert Lewandowski goal ended their chances of securing the play-off place), but nearly isn’t going to be good enough this time. We know what we’ve got to do and we’ve got a target.
“It’s similar to the England game if you look back to that. We’ve just got to learn from those experiences and see games out which is what good teams do.
“Everyone wants it badly. We have just got to try and do as well as we can. We will just go and concentrate on our own performances and look at it that way.
“It (not playing at a major finals) does play on my mind. I have got other people around me at my club going to tournaments and stuff. Time could be running out for me.
“Maybe I have got to put more into the game and look at it that way. If we get through Slovakia we have got another tough game away against Slovenia. It will be a tough job, but it is one we are capable of doing.
“At least we’re in it. It’s in our hands, we know what we have to do. It’s a good challenge and one we’ll work hard at this week. Another positive is it’s at home and we have a good record there so we will go into it confidently.”
Morrison revealed he has quizzed Jake Livermore, his Wes Brom team mate who came on for England in their win against Slovakia at Wembley last month, about Scotland’s next opponents.
His fellow midfielder warned him Jan Kozak’s men, for whom Martin Skrtel, Marek Hamsik and Vladimir Weiss are the danger men, will not be straightforward to overcome.
“I spoke to Livermore and he said Slovakia are a really good team,” he said. “It will be difficult. Jake just said they are a good team, a good passing team, who have got some good players.
“The two key names that we have seen are Skrtel and Hamsik. They also have Weiss, who was at Rangers. They have some good players. We will have to get our game plan right and do what we have done at Hampden in our last few games there.
“I don’t even look at it as being one of the biggest games of my career. It is another game. There is the same amount of pressure all the time now. I just deal with it how I deal with week in, week out.”
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