Scotland v Serbia: ‘It’s all about the team’ says Levein’s favourite James Morrison

ANYONE WHO has ever spent time at a Craig Levein press conference is familiar with how it often goes. The Scotland manager will begin by aiming not to single out any names but, invariably, he will be unable to resist lavishing praise on James Morrison, the West Bromwich Albion midfielder who has come to be regarded as perhaps the pivotal performer in the Scotland team.

Morrison must certainly be rated as one of Levein’s first picks. On the evidence of this season, there is little to persuade anyone to take issue with the Scotland manager’s opinion. Morrison is pulling the strings in a side currently third in the English Premier League after two victories and a draw in their first three games. He is as central to Scotland’s chances of success in the forthcoming World Cup qualifying games against Serbia and Macedonia as anyone.

Levein even insisted he would take Morrison over Landon Donovan “every day of the week” after the American had helped demolish Scotland in May, scoring a hat-trick in the United States’ 5-1 win. Morrison, who watched the game at home after missing the trip through injury, groaned when he heard this: he knew it would make his job of convincing others that he is not the teacher’s pet even harder.

“Cheers gaffer,” he smiled yesterday, when reminded of the comparison with Donovan. He knows that, with such high praise, comes an extra responsibility to keep on playing to a high standard when in a Scotland jersey. However, he says he relishes the challenge, having perhaps lacked some belief at the start of Levein’s reign. He was far from a first pick towards the end of George Burley’s time in charge.

“When Craig took over, I wasn’t playing,” he said. “I had to wait for my chance. I always believed in myself. I have that confidence in myself, but maybe he [Levein] thought I needed loads and loads [of confidence]. It’s nice. Perhaps if he gets a top four job he will take me with him!”

Morrison doesn’t have to switch clubs to reach such a rarefied status at present. West Bromwich Albion have blossomed under new manager Steve Clarke, with the former Scotland internationalist becoming another member of the Morrison fan club after the player scored a 91st-minute equaliser against Tottenham Hotspur two weekends ago.

“It helps when the team is doing well,” said Morrison. “Your performances start to improve. Hopefully I can bring it to Scotland now.”

Morrison is well aware of what is at stake. Now 26, he will be in his prime when the World Cup in Brazil comes along in 2014. He is desperate to be there. “Looking back on the last campaign, if we had done just a bit more, we could have qualified,” he said. “But there are no guarantees in football. Hopefully our experience in that will help us in the next campaign.”

There are regrets stemming from the failure to qualify for Euro 2012 and these, he hopes, will be addressed in the coming months, although Morrison knows it will be just as arduous a task to reach the finals this time around. Club team-mate Shane Long has already told him all about Serbia’s qualities, after the Republic of Ireland’s recent 0-0 draw in a friendly in Belgrade. However, Morrison considers Belgium and Croatia to be the greatest threats, although he expects a certain player from Macedonia to give him a hefty welcome next Tuesday night, in the second game of Scotland’s home double-header.

Full-back Goran Popov has recently signed for West Bromwich Albion on a season-long loan deal from Dynamo Kiev. “I haven’t really met him yet but I assume I will meet him on Tuesday night for the first time, which will be interesting,” Morrison said. “We’ll see what he’s like. We have played them before so we know it will be another tough game. He is a big lad apparently, so I will staying away from him.”

Morrison, though, knows he can expect a comforting embrace from Levein should anything untoward happen to him. He protests at his image as someone who places a fresh apple on Levein’s desk at Scotland’s 
headquarters at Mar Hall each morning.

“Yeah, I give him breakfast in bed,” jokes Morrison. “It’s nice that the manager believes in you. He tries to do that for all the team really. It instils belief in the team to have no fear and go and play. It’s all about the team, not individuals.”