THERE is much to be said for the idea of Gordon Strachan, the Scotland manager, beginning the groundwork right now to develop a team that should reach its peak for the European Championship in 2020.

The next World Cup is a pipedream. Only one side, after all, will qualify automatically from Group F. Let’s be honest. It is going to be England.

There will be much talk of beating Slovenia and Slovakia to second place and making the play-offs, but, given the fact we could not finish third in our Euro 2016 campaign against opposition unlikely to make much of a splash in the finals, it is difficult to have much appetite for such defiant optimism at the moment.

Strachan has, at least, announced that he will name two separate squads for next month’s friendly matches against the Czech Republic and Denmark. These will permit him to take a look at squad members who struggled for regular gametime during the last campaign, but it is also to be hoped they will provide a platform to introduce some emerging players with the potential to be hitting their stride by the time Hampden is hosting major tournament matches in four years’ time.

One particularly interesting individual at the moment is Sam Nicholson of Hearts. It would be a surprise to see him named in a senior squad at this juncture - and not just because he plays for a team in Scotland outside of Celtic – but he should be a dark horse for inclusion all the same.

The 21-year-old left winger has quick feet, real technical ability and is a pleasure to watch. He hurts teams, makes chances and is showing he can take them too. He is certainly one of the most exciting talents the Ladbrokes Premiership possesses with scope for plenty of progression.

He has developed greater consistency after tailing off last term following a terrific start as Robbie Neilson’s side seized the Championship in a chokehold. Against Kilmarnock, he was denied twice by two good saves from the outstanding Jamie MacDonald and saw a terrific header come off the inside of the post early in the second period.

He admits, himself, that he is not sure whether he is quite ready for the sizeable step up in class that international football would bring. Just establishing himself in Ricky Sbragia’s Under-21 side would satisfy him for now.

However, he is the type of player the senior management team ought to be looking at with a view to the longer-term future of the national side.

“The only way I will know whether I’m ready for that level is if I get tested at that level,” said Nicholson. “It’s not something I have given a lot of thought to, but I probably should.

“When I was away with the Under-21s last time, I was injured, but met up with the squad. I spoke to Gordon Strachan then, but we didn’t chat much about the first-team.

“If he is coming to the games and seeing us do well, I might be on his mind. The way I play in the next few weeks will determine that.

“I’m pleased with how things have gone this season. It can be hard for wingers to get that consistency, but I feel I am getting that now.”

Nicholson signed a new three-year contract at the start of the campaign, a move which Craig Levein, the director of football at Hearts, described as the club’s most significant piece of business of the summer.

Certainly, with Robbie Neilson’s side now 11 points clear in third place and looking sure to earn a Europa League place for next term, Tynecastle seems a perfect place for Nicholson to continue his development for another year or so.

“Playing in Europe would be massive for the club,” said Nicholson, a product of the Hearts youth system. “It’s been a while since we were in Europe and, considering this is our first season back in the Scottish Premiership, finishing in the top three would be a brilliant achievement.

“We all believed, though, that, with the squad we had, that we could get there.”

This victory, earned thanks to Jamie Walker forcing the ball home on seven minutes after seeing Jamie MacDonald save his penalty, has everyone in maroon looking towards foreign fields. John Souttar enjoyed a taste of European action as a kid at Dundee United when watching a 2-2 draw with Dynamo Moscow from the stand and is eager for more.

“That was a great atmosphere that night,” he said. “The club has had a hard time over the last couple of years and I think getting into Europe is what everyone at the club deserves.”

With United winning at Ross County, they are now eight points behind Kilmarnock with a game in hand. Souttar certainly believes his former team-mates can pull off a most unlikely escape act.

“I still speak to the boys there and I do think they’ll survive,” he said.

Amid all the focus on Hearts performing so well in their first season back in the top-flight, spare a thought for MacDonald, the Kilmarnock goalkeeper. In addition to blocking Walker’s initial attempt from the 12-yard mark, he also saved a penalty from Abiola Dauda 10 minutes from time.

“It’s just unfortunate that, with the first one, the rebound has gone back to him (Walker) and he’s put it away - with his shin, might I say?,” he remarked. “When you’re luck’s not going for you, it’s not going for you.”