Malta 1 Scotland 5: Encouraging signs as campaign gets off to a flyer

And Gordon Strachan's side gave their followers more than a few anxious moments in Ta'Qali, and even flirted momentarily with the unthinkable prospect of defeat to the team who are 176th in the FIFA world rankings, before finally prevailing comfortably. There is work still to be done.

Read more: Neil Cameron: Every Scotland supporter has been left with a smile on our faces - it feels weird

But any emphatic victory at international level, no matter how inferior the opposition, should be celebrated, away from home especially. The national team can be quietly satisfied with their efforts in their opening Group F fixture against Malta and can take confidence from many positive aspects of their play.

A Robert Snodgrass hat-trick, a Chris Martin strike and a Steven Fletcher header ensured Scotland picked up all three points from their second game in the National Stadium in Ta'Qali this year and sit atop their group after the first round of games.

Read more: Did Robert Snodgrass mean the first goal of his odd Scotland hat-trick? Ach, who cares

The showings of Barry Bannan, Oliver Burke, Chris Martin, Andrew Robertson and Snodgrass augur well for the remainder of their bid to reach the Russia 2018 finals. England, Slovakia, Slovenia and Lithuania will all be far more difficult to overcome. But the morale which had been dented by the painful failure to reach Euro 2016 finals last year has been restored by this 5-1 triumph.

Strachan sprang a fair few surprises with his starting line-up. Callum Paterson, the Hearts right back who made his debut for his country in the 1-0 defeat to Italy in an end-of-season friendly here back in May, was preferred to the vastly experienced Alan Hutton.

Elsewhere, there was also a first start for Burke, the 19-year-old who became Scotland's most expensive player ever when he signed for German club RB Leipzig for £13 million last week.

The Kirkcaldy lad's involvement certainly went down well with the Scotland supporters, around 6,000 of whom had journeyed to the Mediterranean to cheer their team off at the start of what they hope will be a successful journey. The presence of vocal Tartan Army battalions from Cologne, Corby Town and Cyprus made home advantage negligble for Malta.

The inclusion of Bannan, a real Strachan favourite, in central midfield alongside reinstated captain Darren Fletcher was less unexpected given James Morrison's lack of involvement at club level with West Brom of late.

Burke, who played just off lone striker Martin in the 4-2-3-1 formation that his manager once against opted for, won a corner in the very first minute with a powerful run into the opposition area. If he had experienced any pre-match nerves that would have settled them.

Burke had a hand in the first scoring chance Scotland created in the ninth minute. He squared the ball Matt Ritchie who sent Robertson through on goal. The left back had his shot blocked by keeper Andrew Hogg, but it was an encouraging start. The visitors took the lead a minute later.

Snodgrass, playing in his favoured berth on the right side of midfield, floated a cross to the far post. It arched over Hogg and ended up in the net. It was a sweet moment for a player who missed the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with a dislocated kneecap, but he would be the first to admit it was fortuitous.

In true Scottish fashion, they gifted their rivals an equaliser four minutes later. Russell Martin gave away possession in the middle of the park and the home team advanced. Gareth Sciberras chipped the ball to Alfred Effiong and the striker netted with a diving header.

Strachan's men had some half-chances after that in the opening 45 minutes - Hanley headed a Ritchie free-kick wide and Robertson shot past the post - but they faded noticeably and Pietro Ghedin's charges grew in confidence as the first half wore on. They looked bereft of ideas on how to break down hosts who were nowhere near as defensive as had been expected.

The real shock in the Strachan's selection was up front where Martin was given the nod. It was widely anticipated that Steven Fletcher would lead the line by himself once again after Leigh Griffiths withdrew injured. How wrong everybody was.

Martin, who last week moved from Derby to Fulham on loan, had scored just one goal in six internationals, against Gibraltar last year, and had much to do to justify his selection. He did so eight minutes after the start of the second half when he slotted a Ritchie cross from the left past Hogg to put his team 2-1 ahead.

The home supporters were incensed because Andre Schembri was lying face down on the turf following a challenge by Hanley. But referee Yevhn Aronovskiy was right to allow play to continue. He had clearly grown tired with the play-acting of Maltese players who went to ground at the slightest contact.

The match official was also unimpressed when Jonathan Caruana clipped the heel of Martin as he tried to get on the end of a Robertson through ball on the hour mark. He red carded him and awarded a penalty. After waiting an eternity to take the spot kick as the defender's team mate's protested Robert Snodgrass calmly sent Hogg the wrong way and buried a left foot shot in the bottom right corner.

James Forrest came on for Burke, Steven Fletcher took over from Martin and Ikechi Anya replaced Ritchie. The substitutes lifted energy levels noticeably. Fletcher headed a deflected Ritchie cross in and Snodgrass completed his hat-trick.

Luke Gambin was sent off in injury-time for a two footed challenge to cap a miserable night for Malta.