Scotland Need To Deepen The Experienced Pool

11 November 2011 08:15
Whiel a lot of people are wondering why play Cyprus, it allows Craig Levein to test new players before the real pressure is applied in competative games

Craig Levein is keen to use friendlies like tonight's game against Cyprus to boost his options when the chips are down in the World Cup qualifying games. If things are going Scotland's way in Larnaca, debut time on the pitch could be the prizes awaiting Huddersfield striker Jordan Rhodes and Blackpool goalkeeper Matt Gilks. They will be unlikely to start and the manager will want to make sure the game is secure before giving them the nod to come ff the bench. Like Scotland Under-21 striker Rhodes, Hearts midfielder Ryan Stevenson, MK Dons defender Gary MacKenzie and St Mirren goalkeeper Craig Samson are also in the squad for the first time. And Levein is delighted with how the newcomers have settled into the squad. Levein said: "I can say the lads have been excellent, they really have been. It's encouraging for me that we've got players on the fringes that I can bring in. I'm not saying they are all going to play but if they do get some game time that adds to the experience they have had in training and in my mind it makes it a little easier for me to choose them in matches if they are needed. It's a case of trying to strengthen the pool of players for next September. In the meantime it's up to myself and the players to be 100 per cent prepared." Scotland finished third behind Spain and the Czech Republic in their Euro 2012 qualifying group but there is no runaway favourite for their next campaign, which will see them face Croatia, Serbia, Belgium, Macedonia and bottom seeds Wales. Levein said: "The difference between our last qualifying campaign, we had Spain in the group which effectively meant one place was taken because of the quality of that team, so the rest of us were fighting for that second spot. I believe that in this group, it's so wide open that there are two places available. Croatia might disagree with that being the top seeds but I think Belgium, the way they have improved recently, they will be looking to be involved in those two. Serbia I'm sure will be and Wales' improvement in recent times has been quite dramatic, and I feel we've improved enormously as well. So the group is wide open, I defy anybody to say otherwise, and everybody in the group has the opportunity to take points off each other. We need to keep improving and if we can do that, I'm confident we'll have a good chance."

Source: FOOTYMAD