GORDON STRACHAN approaches the USA challenge match at Hampden tonight in the expectation that the selection of Steven Fletcher, the Sunderland striker, will add considerable quality to his team.
The 28-year-old Fletcher is expected to return to the Scotland line-up after being injured against Wales in March and the manager said he had impressed in training.
"Wherever Steven has gone he has made teams better," said Strachan of his striker's spells at Hibernian, Burnley, Wolverhampton Wanderers and now on Wearside. He has that quality to make a squad and a team better.
"It is great working with good players. I am fortunate that most of the time I have worked with right good players. Steven has added to that. You watch him and the way he comes to the ball, glides with the ball when he's got it. It is great. Fletcher adds class to the training. If he adds that class to the actual games, which I'm sure he will, then we're very happy."
The manager has already been impressed with the contribution of Steven Naismith of Everton in the lone striker role but added: "We have competition there now but I want more."
He also praised Alan Hutton, the Aston Villa defender, for his performances at right-back for his country while not being included for his club side. "He's been brilliant. It's a mystery of football how he's not getting a game somewhere."
Matt Phillips, of Queens Park Rangers, has withdrawn from the squad with a hamstring problem and Clint Dempsey of Seattle Sounders has been ruled out for the USA after straining a calf in training. The 30-year-old had been hoping to impress after being linked with a return to English football on loan, with Aston Villa, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and former club Fulham all linked with the forward.
Strachan will wait to assess the Watford winger Ikechi Anya and Derby County midfielder Craig Bryson, neither of whom trained yesterday, before naming a team that he insists will only contain "two or three changes" from those who defeated Croatia.
Scotland were thrashed 5-1 in their last meeting with the Americans, in a friendly in May 2012 under previous coach Craig Levein. Strachan, though, is keen to continue the momentum he has achieved with victories over Croatia and Macedonia. He admitted players will be blooded tonight and against Norway in Molde on Tuesday but emphasised: "We'll make changes in both games without being ridiculous. I don't think that's any good for anyone. It's not great when the players look around and they're all new to each other. It will be disappointing if we can't maintain the momentum."
He said the search for more players would continue before the qualification process for the European Championships in France in 2016. He was confident that young players would come through. "I've got to believe that. It's been done throughout the history of Scottish football," he said.
"Once these games are finished, we'll be having a good look at everybody over the next four months, see how we're doing, judge how we're progressing. We'll see how the youngsters are doing, with another four months playing at different clubs - that'll help them."
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