We would qualify if Euro 2012 started now, says Caldwell

And he has urged his team-mates to take their upcoming friendlies seriously in a bid to make a better start to their next campaign.

Scotland drew in Lithuania and lost in the Czech Republic early in their campaign, leaving them with an uphill struggle to reach Poland and Ukraine, although a home draw against the Czechs ultimately proved crucial as Scotland finished third in the pool.

Craig Levein’s side face Cyprus in an away friendly on 11 November and Caldwell is keen to continue the progress he claims has been “obvious”.

Caldwell said yesterday programme: “The start we had cost us in terms of qualifying.

“I think if the group was to start now, without doubt, we could comfortably finish second.

“But unfortunately we had that slow start and couldn’t recover.

“Now it’s about regrouping and maintaining momentum in the friendlies we’ve got and making sure everyone turns up and tries to keep this progression going so that when the World Cup qualifiers come around, we hit the ground running.”

Caldwell also spoke about his time at Celtic and how he is enjoying life in Wigan away from the Old Firm rivalry.

When asked whether he could return to Scottish football one day, the Latics defender said: “Never say never in football. You are always open to certain things but I have definitely enjoyed my spell down here.

“Having played for Celtic in the Glasgow goldfish bowl, your life outside football is very pressurised as well.

“So to come down here and have that life back with my family, not worrying where to go and what places to go, that’s good and I enjoy that side of it.”