Stark backs Fletcher and McCormack to keep dream alive

Published on Wednesday 3 September 2008 23:36

BILLY Stark believes strike duo Steven Fletcher and Ross McCormack can help keep Scotland's Uefa Under-21 Championship qualifying hopes alive.

Manager Stark is preparing for a crucial double-header to conclude his side's Group 6 campaign, starting with today's visit of Slovenia to the Falkirk Stadium.

A trip to Denmark follows next Tuesday and with the Scots joint second in the table – two points behind leaders Finland – much is at stake. Last month's 3-0 win in Lithuania saw Stark's side secure a fourth straight triumph as they look to book a play-off spot in pursuit of next summer's finals in Sweden.

While a nervy few days lie ahead, Stark is pleased he has Hibernian's Fletcher and Cardiff recruit McCormack at his disposal. Fletcher – without a goal this season – is back with the youngsters having been omitted from George Burley's World Cup qualifying squad, while McCormack is perhaps unlucky not be with the senior set-up after four goals in six games since moving to Cardiff City from Motherwell in June.

Stark feels the pair can now illustrate their talent to keep the dream of the finals in sight.

He said: "Steven has been with the international squad three times, while Ross was in Prague in May to get his full cap.

"It's terrific for us. But when they come back, as Ross showed in Lithuania, there is a confidence that comes along with being a full international player. It can only augur well for us on Thursday night that we have got the two of them who are forward-going, threatening players. They can win games and you can't get enough of them in your team."

After losing in Finland and drawing at home to Denmark at the start of the campaign, Scotland have shown admirable courage to fight back into qualifying contention.

Now Stark has urged them to maintain their form, adding: "We've shown a good mentality I think to do what is required to win and that is a big, big factor in terms of being successful.

"The situation has been that we need to win the game coming up to stay in contention and it's still the same. We are at the end now, the last two games coming in a matter of days.

"If you look at the campaign, even at this stage it has been reasonable. We've had four wins, a draw and a defeat.

"The problem has been that Finland won their first five games which puts them in a really strong position, but we're within two points of them. The way it's set up, anything can happen."