Alan Pattullo: Domestic displays give Craig Levein reason for optimism

Published on Sunday 3 October 2010 16:50

Given Dundee's plight, some accentuating of the positives could be in order. At the start of a week when Scotland play the first match of an attractive European Championship qualifying double-header, Craig Levein can be in good heart.

Czech Republic and Spain might not be quaking in their boots, but Levein must have been enthused by the performance of Steven Naismith for Rangers against Hearts on Saturday. It was his third starring display in six days for his club, although he was already all but guaranteed a starting slot on Friday in Prague.

Shaun Maloney, too, was a match-winner for Celtic following his return to the Scotland squad, and helped turn the tide against Hamilton Accies.

Elsewhere, Alan Hutton continued his rehabilitation at Tottenham Hotspur, arguably the most exciting side in Britain at present. And yesterday Charlie Adam scored at the right end this time, and in front of the Kop, for Blackpool in their sensational win against Liverpool at Anfield.

Levein is obsessed about fielding players who are operating at full confidence. He will have more than a few of them reporting for duty this morning at Mar Hall, the team's base in Renfrewshire.

He noted last week that he still might call others in. Given the lack of options at left-back, and Kirk Broadfoot's bruised foot, perhaps Stephen Crainey could be worth a thought. The former Celtic player has not played for Scotland since a friendly against Denmark in 2004, but has performed solidly for Blackpool this season, and, like Adam, contributed to the result of the day yesterday.