JAMES McFadden stressed last night he has no concerns about Scotland’s ability to score in their Nations League games against Albania and Israel – despite Steven Fletcher having netted more goals than every other member of the 23-man squad combined.
Fletcher, the Sheffield Wednesday striker who has been recalled to the national set-up by manager Alex McLeish after over a year out, has been on target nine times for his country in 31 appearances, six of which have been against Gibraltar.
However, with Charlie Mulgrew withdrawing due a rib injury on Saturday, the other 22 members of the squad now have a total of four goals between them. Captain Andy Robertson has two to his name and Stuart Armstrong and Matt Phillips one apiece.
McFadden, the Scotland coach who scored 15 times in 48 games for the national team, is unperturbed despite the fact Scotland need to do well in both their forthcoming fixtures to ensure they top Group C1 and secure a Euro 2020 play-off spot.
“Steven Naismith and Leigh Griffiths are big losses,” he said. “There’s nothing we can do about it. But Steven Fletcher brings experience. I watched him recently and he is at a good level.
“Johnny Russell has been scoring goals and doing well in the MLS. Oli McBurnie is having a good season at Swansea. He’s not scored for us yet, but we feel he has the attributes to do well for us.
“You’re looking at McGinn, 13 caps, James Forrest, 24 caps, and the rest are in single figures. It does need to change, we have to have goals coming from all areas of the pitch because in the squad there isn’t a lot of goals.
“But it’s the ideal opportunity for guys to come in and score goals. James Forrest has scored a few recently, Ryan Christie, Ryan Fraser is scoring, Gary Mackay-Steven, John McGinn is scoring for Aston Villa, Callum McGregor is scoring and creating, Callum Paterson is scoring, so they can do it.
“It’s not like we’re asking them to do something they can’t do. We just need them to step up and hopefully the guys who we pick will do that.”
McFadden confirmed that Paterson, who has scored three goals for Cardiff City in the Premier League in his last four games and was on target in a 2-1 win over Brighton on Saturday, was likely to be selected in an advanced position.
The former Hearts man has represented his country at right back, where he predominantly played during his time at Tynecastle, in the past, but has been moved forward by Neil Warnock since moving to City.
McLeish has a selection dilemma over to play at right back after Kilmarnock defender Stephen O’Donnell was forced to withdraw from the squad at the weekend with a hamstring injury.
“The good and bad thing about Callum is he can play a number of different positions,” said McFadden. “I had it in my own career when I got shifted about at times because I could play different positions.
“It’s maybe not the best thing for the individual, but it can be a good thing for the squad. He is a goal threat, he’s been doing that from a more advanced role with Cardiff recently. Initially, that’s where we would see him fitting into the side.”
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