GORDON Strachan famously, as any reporter unfortunate enough to ask an ill-considered question would testify, has no time for fools.
Yet, a pair of proper Charlies were uppermost in the Scotland manager's thoughts yesterday as he named his 26-man squad for the friendly international with Qatar and the Euro 2016 qualifier against the Republic of Ireland next month.
Strachan recalled namesakes Adam and Mulgrew, midfielders who have both been absent from the national set-up for differing reasons in 2015, for the double header at Easter Road on June 5 and the Aviva Stadium eight days later.
Adam has enjoyed a fine season with Stoke City in the Barclays Premier League and sprang to nationwide prominence when he scored from 65 yards in a game against English champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last month.
However, the 29-year-old, who won the last of his 25 caps in a friendly match against Poland over a year ago, has had a chequered career with his country and is widely perceived to be a player who Strachan does not fancy.
The national coach, though, stressed that he had outlined to the former Rangers, Blackpool and Liverpool player what was required of him to hold down a regular place in his starting line-up in the future.
"Charlie and I had a conversation about this a long time ago knows exactly how I think," he said. "Sometimes it's hard for players because they are playing well in a team, but it's a completely different system from what we're trying to do.
"That can be a problem for some players. It's very hard being left out because people will say he can't do this and he can't do that. It's just that this team play in a certain style. It might be different from your own club where you might be successful."
If Strachan has been cool about Adam in the past the same cannot be said of Mulgrew who made his comeback for Celtic last week after over five months on the sidelines with a troublesome hamstring tendon injury.
He enjoyed arguably the best game of his Scotland career to date in the 1-0 over Group D rivals the Republic of Ireland at Celtic Park back in November and his manager is clearly enthused at the prospect of having him available for the rematch.
"He gives you a lot Charlie," he said. "Composure, height, the possibility of scoring a goal, deliveries. There is a lot in Charlie's locker."
"Any big games I've seen him in nothing bothers him. Not just in the game itself, but before the game too. There is a calmness about him. Playing in the Champions League gives you that added experience of playing big games, how to handle it, how to prepare yourself for it."
Strachan believes the meeting with Qatar will give Mulgrew and other members of the squad - like his English Championship contingent - who have not been played much competitive football in recent weeks the chance to prove their fitness and improve their match sharpness.
Another individual to be recalled to the national squad yesterday who has a reputation for, as the result of some well-publicised off-field indiscretions in the past, being a daft laddie is Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths.
Griffiths, whose goals helped Ronny Deila's side sew up the SPFL Premiership with three games to spare, was preferred to Jordan Rhodes despite his Blackburn Rovers counterpart netting in the last three games of the 2014/15 campaign.
Strachan, whose views on Rhodes have also, as with Adam, been the subject of some conjecture among the Scotland support, was confident Griffiths would be able transfer his club form into the international arena.
"Griff has caught my eye with what he has been doing at Celtic," he said. "Yes, Jordan will probably feel a wee bit disappointed. But that can happen. It is not easy when you are left out.
"Leigh never causes us any problems whatsoever. He comes along, makes people laugh, scores goals and tries hard. You can't ask for any more. You are always on your toes for a headline somewhere down the line, but apart from that he is great fun."
Meanwhile, Strachan reiterated that he is hopeful Stuart McCall will be able to return to his coaching staff after he missed the games against Northern Ireland and Gibraltar at Hampden in March due to being appointed interim manager of Rangers.
McCall, who is hoping to take the Ibrox club into the SPFL Premiership via the play-offs and earn the position full-time, devised the move that led to Shaun Maloney scoring the winning goal against the Republic of Ireland last year.
"It never went exactly to plan if I remember rightly," said Strachan. "It was a variation. But we gave it him(McCall). We spoke about a week ago. Hopefully everything will be positive and Stuart can join up with us again. If not, then we can deal with it."
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