GORDON Strachan, the Scotland manager, was last night told that Stephen Kingsley, the Swansea City player, would be the best defensive option at left-back against England next week.
Strachan’s first choice left-backs, Andrew Robertson of Hull City and Kieran Tierney of Celtic, have both been ruled out of the vital Russia 2018 qualifier at Wembley on Friday week through injury.
The 59-year-old has decent cover for the pair - Rangers captain Lee Wallace was called into the national squad for the Group F matches against Lithuania and Slovakia last month.
Read more: Raw pace of O'Halloran can help Rangers avenge Celtic defeats in Hogmanay meeting
But Kingsley, who won his first cap for his country when he came on as a second half substitute in the friendly against France in Metz in June, is also a strong contender for a start.
The 22-year-old is plying his trade down south in the Barclays Premier League against the players who will line up for Gareth Southgate’s side in London.
Leighton James, the Welsh football great who covers Swansea matches for the BBC, believes the high level Kingsley is playing his club football at would enable him to cope with the World Cup qualifier.
Read more: Raw pace of O'Halloran can help Rangers avenge Celtic defeats in Hogmanay meeting
James feels the former Falkirk man would be better equipped to nullify the threat posed by the likes of Raheem Sterling and Danny Rose than Wallace would.
“Lee Wallace is obviously at a big club in Rangers in the Scottish Premiership,” he said. “But the Premier League down here is a far better league in comparison.
“It’s Gordon’s choice. He’s got to decide if Stephen Kingsley, who has limited experience but is playing at a high level, is better than Lee Wallace, who has a lot more experience, but at a far lower level. Up until this season, Lee Wallace was playing in the lower divisions in Scotland.
“It’s a big call for Gordon. It’s a massive game. They don’t come any bigger than England v Scotland at Wembley. I am slightly biased as a Swansea City fan, but I would pick Stephen.
“He is probably not as adventurous going forward, but, no disrespect to the Scottish Premiership, Lee Wallace is playing at a lower level. I don’t know how Lee Wallace would get on in the Premier League in England.
Read more: Raw pace of O'Halloran can help Rangers avenge Celtic defeats in Hogmanay meeting
“If Gordon thinks that Scotland can go to Wembley and attack he might go with Lee Wallace. But is he as good as Stephen Kingsley defensively? That is the question Gordon will have to ask.
“Is Gordon going to want his left-back and right-back to go forward? Personally, I think Scotland should settle for a draw at Wembley.”
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