MARK McGhee, the Scotland assistant manager, last night accused Robert Lewandowski, the Poland striker, of playing mind games in the build-up to the crucial Euro 2016 qualifier on Thursday.
And McGhee has stressed the Scotland players will not allow themselves to be fooled by Lewandowski’s provocative comments ahead of their penultimate Group D match at Hampden.
The Bayern Munich striker, who has scored 12 goals in his last four games for the Bundesliga club, has predicted that Gordon Strachan’s side will adopt an excessively physical approach to their meeting this week.
However, McGhee, who confirmed that Charlie Mulgrew has “no chance” of being involved in the double header against Poland or Gibraltar, believes the on-form centre forward is trying to antagonise his opponents.
“He is playing games a bit, playing the continental card, implying that continental teams are not physical,” he said.
“Don’t tell me that Poland are not physical. They are big strong boys. They will be as physical as us. Have no fear, Lewandowski is not sitting at home thinking: ‘Oh I might get kicked’.
“He was entitled to complain after the last game – Gordon [Greer] introduced himself in a physical way. But I think there has been a lot of rhetoric about that.
“The fact is we are going to have to work hard and make sure when we lose the ball we get it back – and if you call that physical then, yes, we will be.
"But I don’t think we have played any game yet when we have looked like anything other than playing within the rules.
“We’ve had Ikechi (Anya), (Matt) Ritchie, (Shaun) Maloney and (Barry) Bannan in the side. Even someone like Andy Robertson is only going to hurt you with the ball and running. I think that is a little bit of a smokescreen.
“You have to be on your guard when you play against top players like Lewandowski. We will be on guard, but that is all that needs said.
"We have players who are up for the challenge of playing against someone like him. We have total respect for him. That’s all.”
Graham Dorrans, the Norwich City midfielder, has been called up to the national squad as cover for Kevin McDonald of Wolves who has been forced to pull out with a back injury.
McGhee admitted the loss of Mulgrew, who has played at centre half, left back and in central midfield during the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, was a blow to Scotland.
Ikechi Anya and Darren Fletcher, who picked up slight knocks playing for Watford and West Brom at the weekend, are both expected to be available for selection.
However, he tipped James McArthur, who started and scored against world champions Germany at Hampden last month, to compensate for the loss in a clear indication the Crystal Palace will retain his place.
“Charlie’s been a huge part of the campaign,” he said. “His performance against Ireland for instance was fantastic. So, yes, he’s a big player for us and we are sorry he’s missing, but we can’t dwell on it. It certainly weakens the options for us.
“But what has happened at this time is someone like James McArthur has emerged as a player of real Premiership. That’s a guy who is setting himself some really high standards.”
McGhee also suggested Steven Fletcher owould once again feature - despite the Sunderland man only scoring twice this season and Leigh Griffiths netting 12 times for Celtic in domestic and European competition.
He said: “You are in the team because you do other things as well, not just score goals. You hold the ball up and let your team get the chance to move up the pitch, which he (Fletcher) has done for us, and you help develop play.”
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