THE assessment was brutal and unflinching.

It came from Steven Naismith and it related to his own efforts and those of Scotland's other most vaunted attack-minded players when it comes to international matches. "At this level we've not been good enough in front of goal - myself, Shaun, Fletch," he said. "It's something you want to improve on in the future."

Scotland's strikers may go on to attain their goals - let's face it, a home meeting with Gibraltar is as good an opportunity to pad your stats as any - but by the statistics it is hard to argue the case with the Everton striker too much. Naismith has just four goals in 35 appearances for his country, Shaun Maloney has four in 38 (a record which would look a lot worse were it not for a recent goal glut), while Steven Fletcher has just one solitary mark on the scoresheet, a Boozegate-era 2009 winner against Iceland at Hampden, to show for his 20 caps. While these three players are far more than just penalty box poachers, for the ability they possess it is a poor return and reason alone why Gordon Strachan will continue to explore the opportunities presented by Jordan Rhodes, whose three goals have been gleaned from just 12 appearances.

Rhodes is sure to feature at some point but Strachan is a manager who rewards loyalty, Fletcher is the man in possession of the jersey and Naismith for one feels that once the Sunderland striker starts scoring he might not stop. "He [Fletcher] just needs a goal," said Naismith. "The way he has to play a club level, it's been tough for him. That's where he's expected to hold the ball up and get players in a bit. But I think his new manager [Dick Advocaat] has helped him a bit in the way they played against West Ham. He has been unlucky and he brings so much to the team - aerial ability, hold-up play, flicks, bringing others into the play. He makes the game easier for guys like myself playing around him. I think one goal would then see him get him a few."

There is a new hope out there about this Scotland team, a hope that bravely declares that we have moved on from being a side which toils so badly against the minnows of world football. Having been part of the squad for Scotland's trauma-inducing meetings with Liechtenstein in 2009 - he was a late sub in the first match, as Scotland desperately chased the Stephen McManus winner which finally arrived in the seventh minute of injury time - no-one feels this more intently than Naismith.

"I came on as a sub for the home game and played in the away one too," recalled the Everton player. "It was just a relief. You're thinking the chance was gone. But we got the result in the end. It was one of those you think it might never come and it is a terrible result.

"For these kind of occasions, people might go into them thinking: We've got 90 minutes, we've got ages. Then before you know it it's half-time. Then 10 or 15 minutes of the second half are gone. That's when it starts getting edgy. It only takes a mistake or a slip for them to get in and maybe take a chance.

"But we've got an experienced bunch here who are well aware of that. I think we're more confident now as a group and in terms of getting the ball out of feet and passing it sharper, overall, we're doing that. It wasn't the best example of it against Northern Ireland. But players are now encouraged to play the dangerous passes that unlock teams, rather than side by side and a bit of pedestrian football. That's been the difference and it's showed in the performances and results.

"Let's hope Sunday is a good performance and just exactly what it has been like in this campaign - good, honest performances with some good football. It would be nice to do it the straightforward way, it's about time we had a few good afternoons and that's what the boys will be aiming for."

It may have to be from the bench today, but Ikechi Anya is one man who knows only too well what Rhodes can bring to the party. This season is a rarity when the Blackburn striker has not scored against his Watford side. "Jordan is one of those players that if you put anything in the box then nine times out of ten it will fall to him," said Anya. "He is a finisher, one of the best in the Championship.

This season, I think we beat Blackburn 1-0 but last season he scored against us last season and the year before he also scored in the 90th minute and we lost. He only needs one chance and he'll finish it - sometimes that's what you need. If you can cross the ball there is a good chance he will get his head on it or maybe a ricochet will fall to him and he'll bury it."