Craig Brown praises Gordon Strachan for Scotland impact

Former Scotland manager Craig Brown has praised current boss Gordon Strachan for returning a “feel-good factor” to the national team ahead of the side’s friendly against Northern Ireland, live on Sky Sports 5.

Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ, Brown echoed midfielder James Morrison’s sentiments about the importance of keeping the national side’s momentum going when international fixtures are so far apart.

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And he believes Strachan’s influence on the side is so positive that both players and fans look forward to any type of Scotland game again.

The Scotland team is playing a brand of football which now is a delight to watch and we’re all very anxious to see this game against Northern Ireland.

Brown said: “I think it’s important that momentum is maintained because here in Scotland there is a terrific feel-good factor about the national team at the moment; Gordon Strachan has engendered that.

“Everyone is up for any fixture, whether it’s a friendly tonight or the competitive match on Sunday against Gibraltar. It’s a great opportunity, a friendly match, to experiment a little. Not without losing the game, of course, and that’s important for Gordon to keep the momentum going.

“I think it will be a typically British game; it’ll be a competitive match because I spoke with Michael O’Neill at the weekend and he’s anxious to play against Scotland in Glasgow and the Scots, of course, are really looking forward to every match these days.

'Anxious'

“I think it will be a really competitive match, full of good football; I’m certain of that. The Scotland team is playing a brand of football which now is a delight to watch and we’re all very anxious to see this game this evening.”

And Brown said he was delighted to hear Strachan describe the intensity the Scottish players were showing in their training sessions, even turning down the opportunity for a bit of rest before the game against Northern Ireland.

He said: “That’s impressive. It’s great for the manager to have players determined to play. Far too often they come complaining about a niggling injury and they want to be rested.

"But I do think, in view of the match on Sunday, and out of respect for the club managers, Gordon will use players sparingly, or some of them anyway. Some might get half a match instead of a full game but it will be interesting to see what he does.”

And, as the issue of finding the best ways to help more youngsters break through in the game continues, Brown said it was important for young players to be given a chance to prove themselves.

“The first thing you look for is ability and a capability to play at a higher level,” Brown said. “You can only find that out by playing him at the higher level.

The first thing you look for in a young player is ability and a capability to play at a higher level. You can only find that out by playing him at the higher level.

“You can establish the player’s ability by looking at him carefully but you’ve got to give him the opportunity and I think more Scottish players will be getting the opportunity in Scotland and in England to play at the higher level.

“I know that the manager here in Scotland, Gordon Strachan, is not slow to introduce young players to the team and therefore they will get their opportunity. It’s only then that we’ll know whether they are going to be good enough to be lasting players at the top level.”