Stephen Halliday: Jordan Rhodes’ rousing display gives Craig Levein food for thought

WHETHER he likes it or not – and he most certainly will not – Craig Levein’s tenure as Scotland manager may well come to be defined by a single issue which sprang from Steven Fletcher being left in the stand for the infamous striker-free defeat in Prague two years ago.

Only time will tell if Levein’s stance in the stand-off, which sees a player currently poised to become the most expensive in Scottish football history exiled from the international squad, is vindicated.

Even Sir Alex Ferguson was moved to lament Fletcher’s ongoing absence last night. In the match programme for the friendly international against Australia, the Manchester United manager added his voice to the debate as he assessed the shortcomings Scotland must address if they are to end their lengthening failure to reach the finals of a major tournament.

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“I think if Craig could get a really top-class central defender and a quality striker to go with what he already has, it would make a big difference, it would bring more balance to a squad where the midfield is so strong,” observed Ferguson.

“That’s why I think it is a shame that Craig and Steven Fletcher haven’t been able to reach a compromise. Fletcher is a very useful striker, the type the national team could always use. I think it would be good for the country if he were available for selection.”

But if the Fletcher situation remains one of self-defeating folly in the eyes of many, Levein was last night offered some encouragement that he may now have a forward at his disposal who can divert that agenda.

Jordan Rhodes is a player who has yet to taste club football any higher than England’s third tier, but his first starting appearance for Scotland backed up Levein’s belief he is destined to be a significant success at international level.

On the back of a remarkably prolific season for Huddersfield Town and equally free-scoring contributions for the Scotland under-21 side, Rhodes unquestionably merited the opportunity handed to him at Easter Road.

If Scotland are to succeed in their forthcoming quest to reach the 2014 World Cup finals, they cannot reasonably expect to solely rely once more on Kenny Miller for the lone striker role in Levein’s firmly established 4-1-4-1 formation.

Now plying his trade with Vancouver Whitecaps as he enters the twilight of his career, Miller was excused the Atlantic crossing for the final warm-up against the Australians as Rhodes was handed the No 9 jersey.

The 22-year-old was in no mood to pass up the chance to press his claims for inclusion when the World Cup qualifiers begin with next month’s Hampden double-header against Serbia and Macedonia. Rhodes caught the eye from the opening moments, his intelligent movement off the ball presenting plenty of options to a Scotland midfield who moved the ball around sharply at times.

Like all effective strikers, Rhodes has the happy knack of manoeuvring himself into the right place at the optimum moment in and around the penalty area. Three times within the opening eight minutes, he was within sniffing distance of an opening goal, narrowly failing to get on the end of crosses from James Morrison and Alan Hutton, then narrowly heading another Hutton delivery wide of Mark Schwarzer’s goal. On the balance of play, Scotland scarcely merited falling behind to Mark Bresciano’s fabulous long-range shot in the 18th minute, albeit Levein’s men had been guilty of woeful defending in the build-up to the goal.

But Rhodes ensured that sense of dismay lasted just 10 minutes as he provided the spark for a morale-boosting win for the Scots. His movement was outstanding again as he got on the end of Danny Fox’s terrific cross from the left, guiding a firm header beyond Schwarzer’s left hand.

Rhodes was a constant nuisance for the Australian defence, who struggled to pin him down, and he again played a role in Scotland making it 2-1 when he drifted away from the penalty area to keep the move going which saw another Fox cross headed into his own net by Aussie sub Jason Davidson.

The ovation Rhodes received when he left the field after 65 minutes was richly earned, with Levein’s evening further enhanced when his replacement, Leeds United striker Ross McCormack, made it 3-1.

Suddenly, the Scotland manager has more than one striking alternative – with or without a certain persona non grata currently valued in excess of £14 million.