Ally McCoist scored 19 goals in 61 appearances for Scotland so this is a man who knows a thing or two about operating at the business end of international football.
The former Rangers player and manager has winced with the rest of the nation at the lack of striking talent a succession of Scotland bosses have had to work with in recent years and at the subsequent failure to reach any of the last five World Cups.
In fact, qualification for the Euros last summer was Scotland’s first major tournament of any note since 1998 and McCoist prays that the three matches played by Steve Clarke’s team against the Czech Republic, England and Croatia were a signal of much better days to come.
Next week, of course, should have seen our nation gripped with World Cup play-off fever as Ukraine were due to head to Hampden. That match, correctly, has been postponed until June in the wake of the war being waged on Ukraine by Russia, meaning Scotland will now face Poland in a friendly at the national stadium.
That will be followed by a trip to face the loser of the Wales-Austria play-off – with the winners of that one lying in wait for whoever prevails when Scotland and Ukraine finally play their match.
These two upcoming matches, then, give Clarke the chance to continue to mould a squad that has won its last six matches, including a superb victory over Denmark at Hampden in November that set up the home play-off opportunity.
Southampton’s Che Adams clinched the win with a fine goal near the end – his fourth in 13 internationals – and McCoist purred with delight from his seat in the commentary box.
Almost five months on, he remains convinced that Scotland, finally, has found itself a top class striker of proven quality at the very top level.
Having seen Adams named by Clarke for next week’s double-header, McCoist is convinced the Southampton striker will continue to grow on the international scene.
He said: “First and foremost, we now have a striker who is a first pick every week for a very good team in the English Premier League. It’s been a long time since a Scotland manager has had that luxury.
“Adams has started his international career really positively and has scored in the last two games against Moldova and Denmark. Apart from that, his general play has been terrific.
“But take it from me, as a striker you want to be hitting the back of the net and those goals will have done him the world of good.
“He’s come away from matches bursting with confidence and it has shown in his club displays. Since then, he scored against the likes of Manchester United at Old Trafford and away to Spurs as well. He has been a breath of fresh air for us.
“Believe me, playing up front for Scotland is really difficult – it always has been. When chances come along you have to take them.”
McCoist also likes the manner in which a partnership has been formed on the international stage with QPR’s Lyndon Dykes. He added: “It’s the first time in a while that we’ve got a good combination and it’s something different.
“Lyndon Dykes is more of a target man, big and strong and occupies defenders.
“He wins free kicks and gets the team up the pitch, as well as knowing where the goal is.
“But Adams is one I like a lot. He’s such a clever player. He’s got a bit of pace and can go in behind and he can finish.
“We’ve lacked somebody who can go in behind and Adams can do that.
“Obviously, the next two games are not as important as they might have been but it’s really key that we keep all these boys fit for the big games we have coming up.”
Another one of those, McCoist insists, is Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack – now back performing for his club after almost a year out that saw him miss the Euros after becoming a crucial cog in Clarke’s engine room during the qualification campaign.
“If Ryan Jack is fit, he goes straight back into that Scotland team, in my opinion,” McCoist said. “He’s pivotal.
“The difference Jack has made since he came back into the Rangers team is enormous. Even in Rangers’ poorest display in years at Celtic Park earlier in the season, the only bright light was Ryan coming on at half time.
“He is key and, without getting carried away, I’m really hopeful now that we’ve got a generation of Scottish talent that can compete at the top level and get us to more European Championships and World Cups.
“Two or three years ago, teams like Ukraine, Wales and Austria, who stand in our way, would have fancied playing us.
“But with players like Ryan and with the lads we have playing exceptionally well at the very top level in England, I don’t think anybody will be that keen to play us at this moment in time.
“If Ryan can string a few games together, keep himself fit, he would be a shoe-in for the squad and, for me, a starter.
“We’ll never know but if he had been fit for the Euros I think he could have made a difference in the opener against the Czech Republic.
“He plugs holes exceptionally well. Players like that have a kind of sixth sense. They sense a bit of danger arising and can go and snuff it out. He has got that talent – and it is a talent – and somebody like him would be excellent for us and a real addition to the squad.
“We’ve got a good blend now. There’s a balance to the Scotland team.
“Defensively, we are solid and have boys like Kieran Tierney and Scott McTominay, who can break forward from the back.
“The midfield is full of quality and for the first time in a long time, we look as though we’ve got forwards that can compete and take a chance when it is presented to them.”
