STEVE Nicol played in the same Scotland team as his namesake Clarke back in the 1980s and is astonished at how few caps such a talented footballer won for his country.

“Only six!” the Liverpool great exclaimed when informed of the number of international appearances the man who is the front runner to succeed Alex McLeish as manager of the national team made during his playing days. “I am shocked. If you had asked me how many he had I would have said about 30. That is a strange one.”

The right back, despite spending 11 years at Chelsea and winning the League Cup, FA Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup during that time, was repeatedly overlooked by his homeland.

Indeed, he only played in two competitive fixtures, in wins over Belgium at home and Bulgaria away during their ultimately unsuccessful Euro ’88 qualifying campaign.

But Nicol, who went on to manage Notts County, New England Revolution and Boston Bulldogs after hanging up his boots, would certainly have selected his fellow Ayrshireman every time he could.

“Clarkey was one of those guys that coaches loved because they always knew what they were getting with him,” he said.

“He was somebody who would give them everything he had, but who was also smart and who didn’t give the ball away. People didn’t go past him. Having coached myself, I know that having a guy like Clarkey is fantastic for a manager.

“He wasn’t particularly gregarious, but he was smart and had a really dry sense of humour. He got on with everybody.

“If you played against him you knew what you were going to get. He wouldn’t roll over, that’s for sure. He would be in your face when need be. You couldn’t take liberties with him. If he needed to kick you he would kick you. Even though we were all mates, it was accepted that if you tried to be clever you would get it.”

Yet, Nicol believes his old team mate’s ability and track record as a coach make him the perfect choice to take over the running of the national team and expressed confidence he can have a long and successful stint if he is appointed.

Like so many observers of Scottish football, he has been greatly impressed with how well Clarke has done on a shoestring budget since taking over at Kilmarnock last season.

He led the Rugby Park club away from the Ladbrokes Premiership relegation zone and into the top six and this term has, despite losing important players, done even better.

Entering the final round of Premiership fixtures this weekend, his side are ahead of Aberdeen on goal difference and on the verge of finishing third in the table and securing an automatic European place.

Many members of the Tartan Army would dearly like to see a man who has helped a group of journeymen players overachieve on a consistent basis assume responsibility for getting Scotland to the Euro 2020 finals.

But Nicol, who is now based in the United States where he works for broadcaster ESPN, feels the work Clarke has done in the past with Newcastle United, Chelsea, West Ham, Liverpool, West Brom, Reading and Aston Villa make him the best possible candidate.

“I am surprised it has taken the SFA so long to think of Clarkey,” he said. “Who is more qualified? He has worked with a whole gamut of players.

“Yes. he has done superbly with players in the Premiership with Kilmarnock. But if you go back to the start of his career he worked with the top guys at Chelsea. He has also worked in the Championship in with Reading?

“He has got an understanding of every single type of player regardless of what league they are in. That is what the Scotland team is now. It isn’t like years ago when they were all playing top flight football.

“We have some guys in the Premier League, some guys in the Championship, some guys in the Premiership. You have even got Jonny Russell over here in the MLS.

“Clarkey has worked with all of these guys. I can’t think of anybody more qualified right now.”

Nicol continued: “Look at Kilmarnock and look at what he is getting out of them. No disrespect to them, but none of them are particularly well known.

“Because of his coaching, the way he has got them playing and the way he is managing them, a lot of them are starting to get their name around.

“It is called experience. He has experience of every single type of player. As soon as a guy comes in the door he will know how to deal with him.

“If he is going to win his first cap he will see straight away if he is only good enough to play in the Championship and therefore can only do a certain job. He will know if he is a guy who is capable of stepping up to the Premier League and can do more. That is invaluable. It saves wasting a lot of time. Right now, I can’t see anybody better for the job.”

Scotland made a disastrous start to their bid to reach their first major tournament since France ‘98 back in March when they lost 3-0 to Kazakhstan in their opening qualifier in Nursultan.

An unconvincing and ultimately meaningless 2-0 win over minnows San Marino followed and McLeish was, despite securing a play-off spot through the Nations League in November sacked by the SFA last month.

Nicol, who played for Scotland at the World Cup in Mexico in 1986, believes that, with players like Ryan Fraser of Bournemouth, Andy Robertson of Liverpool and Scott McTominay of Manchester United as well as James Forrest, Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney of Celtic,in the squad, that the national team can reach Euro 2020 if Clarke takes over.

“They have got a base to build on, no question,” he said. “I think about the USA. As individuals under Bruce Arena for a decade they didn’t have big names, but they had a togetherness and worked hard under a good coach and reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

“If you get a good manager who understands everybody and gets them working you’ve got a chance. That’s what you get with Clarkey.”