HIS professional career has come and gone in a time when Scotland’s dry spell has turned into a drought of epic proportions. But Steven Caldwell is keeping the faith that Gordon Strachan can quench the nation’s major championship thirst next month.

The former international defender had barely signed professional terms at Newcastle United when Craig Brown’s side last graced one of football’s biggest stages in France in 1998. Yet the recently-retired Caldwell had high hopes that Strachan’s new breed were on their way back to Gallic pastures next summer after starting their Euro 2016 qualification campaign in impressive fashion.

That was until the tame surrender to Georgia in Tbilisi last month and the Hampden defeat to Germany that followed.

“I was so disappointed with the Georgia game. Gordon Strachan [pictured] really is a fantastic manager, he’s a guy I know through managing my brother. I totally think he’s the right man at the right time for this team,” said Caldwell, who won 12 caps in the years since Scotland last made it to a big one. “That’s probably why I was so disappointed with the way we played in that game. I felt we never looked like we had enough ideas, we were a bit static, a bit scared almost. I thought that was the kind of thing we had moved past.”

With Ireland now four points ahead of Scotland in the race for a play-off spot, Strachan’s side face a decisive date with Poland at Hampden in a fortnight. Caldwell is desperate to see the manager set his side up to take the game to Robert Lewandowski and co.

“My only hope and I’m by no means telling Gordon how to coach a team, but I hope against Poland he’s really positive and he goes out to attack,” he said. “Because it’s still there. We can certainly beat Poland, as we have proved. But let’s go and have a go at them. Let’s go and have a Scottish game, a Scottish atmosphere. Take away the fans’ apprehensions by starting on the front foot.

“It’s a shame. I can remember sitting in front of the TV in 1998, Brazil-Scotland the first game in France.

“Packed, packed house. Every one of us with our Scotland strip on. Just the feeling that a major championships brings to a country. I do think we can still get there. If we can sneak into the play-offs and get a favourable draw.”