ONE of the things Gordon Strachan likes about James Morrison is his inquisitive nature.
Not all players pipe up during team talks, training sessions and matches, but Morrison never has been reticent about asking questions of his manager. That said, there was one moment this week when he didn't like to quiz Strachan about exactly what was going on.
The manager took him out of a meal at the Scotland squad's hotel and said he would like a private word. "I thought I was in trouble, I was a bit shocked," said Morrison. In trouble? Strachan had decided the 27-year-old would captain Scotland for the first time and this was his way of imparting the news.
"I was on cloud nine. I came back to the meal and the lads were saying 'what was that for?' I said 'oh nothing, nothing.' It was a proud moment. I'm on top of the world. I was a bit shocked at first but then I thought of leading the team out and maybe getting a result in Croatia."
The Scotland team's results decline, qualification campaigns slip away, and yet the prestige of the captaincy endures, at least as far as the players seem concerned.
Darren Fletcher left a message on Morrison's phone offering his congratulations. Fletcher is the real Scotland captain but unavailable due to the serious bowel condition which jeopardises his career (he has yet to appear since Strachan became manager). Gary Caldwell, Scott Brown and Kenny Miller have also pulled on the armband and, in the absence of that quartet, Morrison will do so in tonight's World Cup qualifier in Zagreb. Thoughtful, quiet and popular, he has been an occasional captain in the past at club level for West Bromwich Albion.
"James is a good pro," Strachan said. "He is quite clever and asks questions. Gary Caldwell was the first one [Strachan captain] but that shows you what is happening with this squad. Suddenly he's away and so are Darren Fletcher and Kenny Miller. There are a lot missing. Some players keep [questions] to themselves and ask their team-mates later on. James will ask you in training and during the game."
Morrison is the first England-born player to captain Scotland since Bruce Rioch at the 1978 World Cup finals, having qualified through the bloodline eligibility rule because his late grandfather, George, was from Largs. "Unfortunately he's passed away. Hopefully he'll be looking down and giving me some support. That's one of the main reasons my family decided to do it [choose Scottish eligibility]. I've done it for six years, so it tops off a great season and just shows how far I've come from the Czech Republic six years ago," Morrison said.
His debut was in a 3-1 friendly loss in Prague in May 2008. George Burley was the first to select him and Craig Levein and now Strachan have picked him consistently, to the extent that tonight will be his 27th appearance. "I'm not going to change the way I am, ranting and raving, just because I'm the captain. I'm just going to do my normal bit, play my normal game, and try to lead by example. With me it's action not words, although I like to think I do a bit of both on the pitch. I like to moan a bit. I always take an interest in tactics and how we are going to set up and how we are going to hurt the opposition. I am always asking questions. I enjoy that side."
With admirable humility, he feels the absence of Fletcher and Caldwell means he has the captaincy only as a loan arrangement. "As long as I've got the armband I'll look to enjoy the responsibility. After I'm finished, I'll look back on it with real pride."
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