Terry Christie: Scotland team should include both Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson

One would have to play out of position and the Arsenal man would take to centre-back like a duck to water

Kieran Tierney has been playing in a central defensive role for Arsenal. Picture: SNS.

Imanaged Alloa Athletic, Stenhousemuir and Meadowbank Thistle (now Livingston). All three clubs were strapped for cash and so the player pool was small.

My guiding philosophy was to get the best players on the park. Often this meant players taking on roles that were not familiar to them.

Usually this was successful – sometimes not. The more intelligent the player the greater were the chances of success.

I feel this type of flexibility should be used with our national team and, of course, it has to be used to solve the Andy Robertson/Kieran Tierney dilemma.

Both are terrific players and both are left full-backs but their ability demands that they both be in the side. One of them has to be played out of position and it should be Tierney and not Robertson, who is currently one of the best left 
full-backs in world football.

But where should Tierney 
play?

The answer is obvious – at left centre-back. It would be nice if he was taller but we are drastically short of centre-backs and Tierney would take to the role like a duck to water especiallyas Arsenal have recently been using him in that position in a back three.

Then there is the problem at right-back. Stephen O’Donnell has played there 11 times for Scotland and each time given of his best. However, international football is a stretch for him.

One thing Scotland does have is a surfeit of talented midfielders and I would play one of them at 
right-back. For me the obvious one is Stuart Armstrong of Southampton, pictured above.

He is an intelligent player and has the physical attributes required for a full-back.

I am sure he would prefer playing at right-back to sitting on the bench. My back four would be: Armstrong McKenna, left, Tierney Robertson.

Scott McTominay would be anchoring the midfield and giving them a bit of protection.

Looks good to me.

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