James McFadden urges Scotland goalscorers to challenge Leigh Griffiths

James McFadden says Alex McLeish needs his Scotland players to step up and rival Leigh Griffiths in the scoring stakes.

The Scots have managed only one goal in their last five games and McLeish’s right-hand man McFadden admits that is a worry.

A September 7 friendly with Belgium is Scotland’s next fixture, followed by their opening Nations League match against Albania three days later.

Leigh Griffiths (left) and James McFadden. Picture: SWNS

Scotland have not been able to call on Celtic’s Griffiths since Gordon Strachan’s last match in charge against Slovenia, at the end of their failed World Cup qualifying bid.

A calf injury kept the striker out of friendlies with Holland, Costa Rica and Hungary earlier this year while he was rested for the recent tour of Peru and Mexico.

But while Scotland hope to have Griffiths involved next time out, McFadden admits it will take more than one man’s efforts to get the team back on the front foot.

Speaking at the McDonald’s Scottish FA Community Football Day in Musselburgh, McFadden told Press Association Sport: “We have to find a different way of scoring because up until now we haven’t had Leigh Griffiths in the squad.

“We have to see who is available and who else can step up to the mark.

“But we have other players coming in. James Forrest and Callum McGregor have scored a lot of goals for Celtic this season but missed the summer tour to Mexico and Peru.

“So there are goals in the squad - it’s just that the likes of the Celtic boys haven’t been involved in the last few games. However, with those guys coming back in, the future looks bright for me.

“We’re very excited and can see what looks like an exciting team coming through.

“We’d love to have Leigh back leading the line but it is also up to the other players to step up and show they can be called upon if required.”