Kris Boyd and James McFadden add bite to Scots attack

Published on Monday 6 September 2010 17:54

Craig Levein has made a gentle concession to those who demanded that he selected a more adventurous side for tonight's European Championship qualifier against lowly Liechtenstein than the one held 0-0 by Lithuania last week.

• James McFadden limbers up during Scotland's training session in Paisley yesterday. He returns to the starting line-up to play Liechtenstein tonight, having been on the bench in Lithuania. Picture: PA

That result, in the opening match of Scotland's latest attempt to qualify for a major finals, saw the manager face the first faint stirrings of public disapproval following a relatively benign first nine months in charge. Levein yesterday acknowledged the "general carping" that had been provoked by the result in Kaunas and stood by his belief that Scotland are best served by being solid rather than spectacular.

Levein's routine of releasing the starting line-up on the eve of the match revealed that he had ditched the lone striker formation favoured in recent away games against Lithuania and Sweden.

Kenny Miller has been handed a strike partner in Kris Boyd, who makes his first competitive start in a Scotland jersey since September 2007. This period includes the 18 months of international retirement clocked up by the player following a fall-out with George Burley, Levein's predecessor.

James McFadden also returns to the starting line-up after being named among the substitutes in Lithuania and the Birmingham City player is likely to be used wide on the left of midfield as Scotland go on the hunt for victory.

Levein stressed that the collection of three points is his first aim, although goal difference could become an issue come the end of the campaign. Many Scotland fans had been willing Levein to be less cautious against a side ranked 141st in the world, and who will bring just 120 fans with them to Hampden Park tonight.

The scale of the task faced by the visitors is reflected in bookmakers William Hill making them 16-1 to win at Hampden. Scotland, meanwhile, are 1-14 favourites to win.

Levein remains devoted to the idea that for Scotland to progress then each player must put their shoulder to the wheel, even against a side ranked as lowly as Liechtenstein. "I would love to be able to give them a really great night," said Levein with reference to the Tartan Army. "We will be trying to do that. All I am saying is that this is not an easy task."

Lee Wallace steps back in at left-back after Steven Whittaker was ruled out with a calf injury and Kirk Broadfoot went over an ankle in training. The Hearts player did not travel with the squad to Lithuania and continued to receive treatment for a foot injury.But he has been passed fit to play tonight and is the only change in a defence which continues to be marshalled by the 40 year-old David Weir.

Skipper Darren Fletcher will win his 50th cap in the middle of the park, and will be joined there by Scott Brown. Doubts had been raised about his inclusion due to both fitness and the booking the Celtic player picked up in Lithuania. Another yellow card tonight will rule him out of the crucial trip to face Czech Republic next month.

Levein yesterday pondered his formation: "I might play 4-4-2 tomorrow - there's nothing wrong with playing 4-4-2. But we have this fascination with the 4-4-2 system. People think that 4-4-2 means attacking, and that if you don't play 4-4-2, then you're not attacking. I don't know where this (thinking] comes from.

"If you look at international football, and even club football throughout the world, nobody plays with two strikers. If people play well within the system, and create chances and score goals, then the system is irrelevant," he added. "If we don't, then people will say it was the system that was wrong."

Despite these comments, Levein is intent on playing with two up front tonight. However, he cautioned against all the focus falling on the strikers. He has also challenged Darren Fletcher to be more dominant in the last third of the pitch.

"Darren reaching 50 caps is a great story," he said. "He's a lovely guy and a fantastic player - and there is more to come from him. I thought on Friday night we saw the energetic part of his game coming to the fore which was really pleasing to see.

"I'd like to see far more of that and Darren being a creative influence on the game. He has got to 50 caps in a quick space of time. I'm chuffed to bits for him."