SCOTLAND managed to let their chances of European Championship qualification slip through their fingers during 2007 but at least they were successful in securing an important player for the national team’s future. Not long before they departed for our last visit to Tbilisi, Alex McLeish convinced a native of Darlington called James Morrison that his international chances were best served on the other side of the border, the country of his grandparents’ birth.

It wouldn’t be until May 2008, and a friendly against the Czech Republic in Prague, that this one-time England youth cap would make his full debut under George Burley, but fast forward seven years and 39 international caps and it is hard to imagine a Scotland side without this seasoned, cultured Barclays Premier League performer. In the occasional transfer market which exists in international football, that puts him down as a pretty good bit of business. Even with Scott Brown set to recover from a dead leg to take his customary role in midfield, the West Bromwich Albion midfielder’s credentials for a start are impeccable, exemplified by his two goals a week ago against champions Chelsea, even if a penalty save from Thibaut Courtois denied him a remarkable hat-trick.

Morrison doesn’t always get into such advanced positions for the national team but he is well aware how priceless it would be if he could add to his complement of three Scotland goals - all scored in away matches in the British Isles, at Wembley, the Millennium Stadium and the Aviva Stadium in Dublin - on Friday night in the Boris Paichadze Stadium.

“I should probably have a bit more but I often find that opportunities to score are quite hard to come by,” said Morrison. “The games are always quite close. I play a different role for Scotland than I do for West Brom - we have two midfielders who just really sit there - but if an opportunity comes along I will be confident I can put one away.”

There is a danger of fearful Scotland fans talking themselves into frenzy about a recurrence of that ill-fated night in Tbilisi, allowing it all to become a self-fulfilling prophesy. Thankfully this squad and this manager see no reason to be defined by the mistakes of the past. As sheltered as he is south of the border from all the hysteria, Morrison admits Friday is the “biggest game” of the campaign but believes Scotland have shown thus far in the campaign that they have the mentality to thrive in such circumstances. With the Republic of Ireland and Poland also having won in Tbilisi, failure to do likewise would see the Scots surrender crucial ground.

“Everyone around me has been quite relaxed really, which is quite refreshing actually,” said Morrison. “Obviously they [my family] just concentrate on club football most of the time, but now it is time to focus my thoughts on this one. There is pressure on the game full stop. We know it took the Republic of Ireland until the 90th minute to beat them and I believe it will be our biggest game too. It will be a tough game, but when the chance comes we need to be there to put it away. There will be a huge delight if we come out on top.

“You do feel it sometimes, the what ifs, no matter what games you play, but the gaffer [Gordon Strachan] has drummed it into us: whatever game you are playing be positive. The Republic of Ireland game we were under a bit of the cosh but we came out on top in the second half and that is what we want: reactions in pressure games.”

Strachan rewards players who do well by him in previous matches or who show up well in training sessions. That is why other Barclays Premier League stand-outs such as James McArthur and Darren Fletcher have had to be content with the odd substitute appearance here and there. Morrison reckons the fact that the veteran West Brom skipper can’t infiltrate Scotland’s strongest side only shows the strength and depth which the nation now has at its disposal.

“Darren is someone who I look up to really, our captain at West Brom and captain with Scotland for seven years too,” said Morrison. “He is desperate to qualify and he is very vocal, says the right stuff at the right time, and if there is something which has to be said back to the manager he will say it. The fact someone like him is a fringe player shows the depth we have and proves that if you are not here and someone does well then you keep your place. That is what Gordon has done for this squad. I think Darren realises that and he will wait for his chance to come along.”

But whether you are aspiring young player, long-suffering veteran or former England youth cap, every member of this squad will take their own validation should Scotland get over the line. Whatever the 12-year-old Morrison’s individual dreams were as he soaked in Scotland’s last qualification for a major finals at France 98, he will derive as much satisfaction as anyone else if he can grace a European finals as part of this squad.

“I think we want to do it for ourselves,” said Morrison. “As a kid growing up that was all I did, play football and watch football. It would be the biggest achievement of career if I could get there.”