SCOTLAND manager Alex McLeish has hit out at the English Football League for scheduling matches on Thursday night, less than 48 hours after a host of internationals are played all over Europe.

Charlie Mulgrew, Scotland’s captain in Friday night’s defeat to Costa Rica at Hampden, is the man in McLeish’s squad who will be impacted, with his club side Blackburn Rovers having a crucial match against Bradford City scheduled for Thursday evening.

McLeish admits that the timing of the game at Ewood Park may affect his thinking as he ponders his line-up for Tuesday night’s game against Hungary in Budapest, but that the good of his Scotland team must always come first over any club considerations.

Asked if he was surprised the EFL had scheduled matches so soon after the international fixtures, McLeish said; “Aye. It has come into my thinking.

“It was a big test for him on Friday, it was a tough game and he had a lot of work to do in that game. So, we’ll look at whether he starts or plays a part of it. But we’re very aware he’s got a game on Thursday, we don’t want to fall out with clubs, but Scotland has got to come first, even in this situation.

“It’s not our fault the English League have put a game on that night, we can’t help that.”

McLeish says Andy Robertson, who was handed the armband by Mulgrew when the skipper was substituted late on, may lead the team if he decides to rest the Blackburn Rovers man.

“We’ll definitely look at it,” he said. “Andy excelled on Friday night, in the second half especially. He showed us just what a top player he is, playing for a top team and with the players he’s playing with. He’s part of that brilliant Liverpool team and they all trust Andy as much as he trusts them.

“We’ve got a great player there. We’re thankful we’ve got him. We don’t have superstars, as such, but we have to look to guys like Andy Robertson as leaders, guys to look up to and try and emulate what he’s done.”