STEVEN FLETCHER last night basked in the glory of becoming the first Scotland player to score a hat-trick for almost 46 years and recording an achievement that proved beyond even the legendary Kenny Dalglish.

The Sunderland striker was the key figure in a 6-1 Euro 2016 qualifying win over Gibraltar at Hampden Park that also saw Shaun Maloney convert two penalty-kicks and Steven Naismith get on the scoresheet.

Fletcher had only scored once in 19 appearances for his country - his last goal coming against Iceland almost six years ago - and his relief at becoming the first player to manage a hat-trick since Colin Stein netted four against Cyprus in May 1969 was almost tangible.

"I've been told it was 46 years since the last Scotland hat-trick and I was shocked," he said. "I thought Kenny would have managed it, so I am very happy and proud to be part of history.

"It will be one of the best achievements of my career.

"I've got the match ball and I'll probably put it in a little glass cabinet. I have another one from my Hibs days when I scored a hat-trick against Gretna, so I will put it next to that.

"It's been a while since I scored for Scotland and I was aware of that. I get told every day.

"Getting the hat-trick will definitely help my confidence going into the summer."

Fletcher also detailed the debt he believes he owes to the national coach, Gordon Strachan, for retaining faith in him throughout the current campaign.

"The manager likes my link-up play and I've been doing a lot of that,"

he said. "I know people have been saying I haven't scored, but I've been doing other parts.

"He's been of massive support to me. He's been great with me since I came back into the Scotland squad and I owe a lot to him."

Maloney was delighted to see Fletcher answer questions raised in recent days over his qualities as an out-and-out finisher.

"He deserved the hat-trick more than I did," said the Chicago Fire midfielder. "In the last week, his goalscoring record has been spoken about and we're all pretty pleased he got the hat-trick."

Scott Brown, back as captain in place of Darren Fletcher, admits, however, that Gibraltar did give Scotland an unexpected scare when scoring their first-ever goal in competitive international football to make it 1-1 on 20 minutes.

"Gibraltar, at one point, put three up front and that spooked us a bit, but the fact we responded with five goals showed what a great attitude we have," he said.

Lee Casciaro was the man responsible for writing his name into footballing history with that terrific finish which cancelled out Maloney's opening goal. Asked about following in the footsteps of Zinedine Zidane, the goalscoring hero of Real Madrid's 2002 Champions League victory in Glasgow, he confessed he is not the first man from the British Overseas Territory to enjoy the Hampden spotlight.

"I remember Zidane's Champions League final well," he smiled. "It was a Gibraltarian who jumped out of the stand and onto the park in his kilt and his Madrid shirt that night as well.

"Scoring the goal was a dream come true and I knew it was going in as soon as I hit it."

Casciaro concedes there has been little glamour in Gibraltar's journey to this point, but the moment he latched onto a great pass from Aaron Payas and lashed a low drive past David Marshall made the struggles all worthwhile.

"We have just joined UEFA and started to train on a proper football pitch," he said. "I have been training all my life wherever I have been able to train, whether that be running on the roads or training for an hour-and-a-half a week on seven-a-side pitches.

"Two or three years ago, I didn't think I we'd be here because I didn't think we would get into UEFA. "Everything has happened so fast and we are learning every day. The goal is something is something I will cherish for the rest of my life."