Kris Boyd not sure to start despite need for goals

Published on Sunday 5 September 2010 17:26

CRAIG Levein is sure to select an attacking formation for tomorrow night's game against Liechtenstein, according to Scotland assistant manager Peter Houston. Just how positive remains to be seen.

• Scotland assistant manager Peter Houston is unsure if Craig Levein will commence tomorrow's must-win match with one striker or two on the pitch, but claims a solitary front man would not equate to a lack of attacking intent

Kris Boyd is the most probable change from the line-up which began Friday's goalless draw in Lithuania, with James McFadden and Graham Dorrans also coming into contention for a start. But Houston, speaking before the team had been chosen, refused to say how many strikers would be included, and insisted that it was perfectly possible to play positively and score prolifically with only one player up front.

Boyd quit the national team before when George Burley was in charge, apparently out of frustration at not being given a start. But, asked if the Middlesbrough player might be tempted to do something similar again if not selected for tomorrow's European Championship qualifier, Houston insisted Boyd remained an enthusiastic and committed member of the squad.

"I wouldn't be wary of a similar reaction from Kris if he wasn't to start against Leichtenstein," Houston said at the Scotland team hotel. "It also might not be a question I need to answer though.

"Kris Boyd's attitude here has been fantastic. He wants to play, naturally, but we have 23 players in the squad who are in that same position.

"One thing is for sure - the manager will put an attacking formation out. The team hasn't been picked yet, and the manager has one or two decisions in forward-thinking areas to think about. We expect a couple of changes here or there.

"It is up to the manager to decide if he wants to start with him on Tuesday night. That is not for me to decide. Regardless, I wouldn't expect anything other than a positive Kris Boyd. Since he has come back in he has been brilliant in training and about the place.

"Kenny Miller has also been in hot form, and so if you are only going to play one striker then it would be difficult to take him out just now. Kris has to be patient and I am sure he will be. I don't expect anything else from him."

Reminded that Boyd made a particular habit at his former club Rangers of scoring a lot of goals against weaker opposition, Houston agreed that "gives him a good chance to be in the team". But the assistant manager went on to suggest that pairing Boyd with former Ibrox teammate Kenny Miller was only one possible option which Levein was considering.

"It hasn't been decided by the manager yet, but we have to make sure we don't lose any goals.I would expect the back four to remain the same if they are all fit.

"But I don't know if the manager will go with one striker or two. It is up to him how he will want to go.

"It would be wrong for me to say we will definitely play with two strikers, because truthfully it hasn't been decided yet. We have discussed loads of options and two strikers is one of the options.

"I look at all the teams and most of the top teams only play with one striker. Spain will play with one striker and one off in the majority of games and they still score goals. What we have to think if we do go with one striker is how are we going to best get the goals.

"Looking at club level, Manchester United only play with one striker and score loads of goals every week. There are other people on the park, other than the strikers, who should be scoring goals. We also say midfielders should chip in with goals and wide players should cut in and have shots. Scoring goals is important and the manager has to decide how he thinks we will best get them."

In addition to his backing for the defence, Houston added that nothing would be done to try to curb Scott Brown and Lee McCulloch, both of whom were booked in Kaunas. If his message that they should carry on regardless is tantamount to an admission that both will keep their places, and given that captain Darren Fletcher will be selected and win his 50th cap, the two men most in danger of being axed are Barry Robson and Steven Naismith.

One would make way for Boyd, the other for either McFadden or Dorrans. "It is about striking a balance of how we are going to play against a team who will play with two banks of four and will play a very tight and narrow formation," Houston added. "We have got to have players to overcome that.

"The best that could happen to us is maybe score an early goal, and it would be nice to get a few goals. Whatever combination the manager goes with, I think there's goals in the team. But if we get three points I'll be more than delighted."

Houston stressed that Liechtenstein, for all their status as minnows, would still strive to make themselves hard to break down. Being away from home, and having less hope of achieving the odd good result than Lithuania, they will be more defensive than Scotland's first opponents were on Friday night.

"They might try to kill the game again. But what our players must do is, like they did on Friday, pick themselves up and get on with it.

(Lithuanian defender] Andrius Skerla had a couple of fouls on (Steven] Naismith and (Barry] Robson. We didn't complain too much on the park because the players were full focused to get on with it. It can be frustrating at times and we've seen it many times in matches where teams have adopted tactics where they will use any means to stop a team from scoring.It frustrated us more on the bench because of the constant fouls against us.

"We have to move on from that and look at Liechtenstein as a different game. I don't think they are all full-time - I think some are also part-time. What we have to make sure is that our energy and tempo levels are up and we rise above their tactics."

Although willing to repeat some of his criticisms of the way Friday's game in Kaunas was officiated, Houston said he did not think Scotland's players or coaching staff had to be more vocal - be it during a match or in its aftermath - to help ensure that they got fairer treatment in subsequent games. "I don't think you really get anywhere by taking things any further.

"You have to make your point, but it is up to the referee's delegate. He had to assess the referee and his position.

"I don't think we would get anything out of it if we continued to complain. The assessor will look at it and the referee is the one who might suffer.

"As far as I am concerned it is finished. The game is over and done with and we have got a point from a difficult away fixture. We've made our point, and we have said the referee wasn't great, but let's move on and move forward rather than look back."

Fletcher is one member of the squad who has a lot to look forward to, and Houston sees no reason why the Manchester United midfielder cannot go on to win 100 caps for his country. "It's a great credit to a young guy getting 50 caps at his age, and (reaching 100] would be a great honour.

"He's up for every game. I've got so much admiration for him as a person as well. He's a credit to himself and his family both on and off the field."