Peter Houston considers Kenny Miller to still be Scotland's number one striker despite him staying in Canada instead of being named in the squad to face Australia on Wednesday. Huddersfield's Jordan Rhodes looks odds on to start in the lone striker's role against the Socceroos at Easter Road in Scotland's final warm-up before the World Cup qualifiers. Miller has a new club in Vancouver Whitecaps, which some have suggested as him winding down his career. I would not like to be the person that suggested this to Miller who has consistently stressed his ambition to help Scotland reach a major tournament finals. Houston feels the Miller will be a key player in the campaign to get to the finals in Brazil 2014, which begin for Scotland against Serbia on 8 September.
Peter Houston is relaxed ahead of Australia game (C) Ger Harley | SportPix Scotland assistant manager Houston said: "Kenny Miller has done exceptionally well in the last qualifiers, and captained the team. We have to make sure we have players who can put Kenny under pressure. If Kenny is injured or not producing, then we have to find out who can take that role. But I think it would be wrong of us, because Kenny has gone to Vancouver that we rule him out. Kenny is still very fit, very quick and one thing is for sure, if you look at Jordan Rhodes and David Goodwillie, they can learn from the way Kenny Miller plays international football, as a lone striker on many occasions, and how he copes with defences. He upsets them and he has scored numerous goals at this level. But I still think Kenny is the number one striker." Goodwillie came into the squad along with Ross McCormack and Ian Black after manager Craig Levein was hit by the weekend withdrawals of Graham Dorrans, Jamie Mackie, Phil Bardsley and James Forrest. The squad list did not contain Barry Robson, Miller's Vancouver team-mate, and both Scott Brown and Darren Fletcher are sidelined through fitness issues, although the latter is training with the squad. But Houston is keen to make sure Scotland get a result after their 5-1 defeat by USA in May. He said: "There has to be experimentation because of the players that have withdrawn. There's five guys who could stake a claim to being in the first 11. Unfortunately they are out but it gives others an opportunity. But we have to make sure we are ready, this is a preparation for two very tough matches next month. Australia give us great opposition, they have some talented players, they are always very fit and athletic, and they are about 20 places above Scotland in the FIFA rankings."Source: FOOTYMAD
