GORDON Strachan is pondering a surprise international call-up for Tony Watt.
The Scotland manager faces a sweat over the fitness of Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher for the international double-header with Qatar and the Republic of Ireland next month and one of his contingency plans involves the former Celtic striker, who is playing regularly for Championship outfit Charlton Athletic.
While Leigh Griffiths' scoring exploits for Celtic since the New Year could also put him in the frame for a recall, Watt's strong-running, bruising style could be regarded as closer to that of Fletcher and both Strachan and his assistant Mark McGhee have been making checks on the player's progress.
"I've just been watching Tony Watt for an hour-and-a-half, looking at the stuff he's been doing," said Strachan. "I know Tony, but it was just to keep an eye on him and I can also ask people there how he's doing. And Mark saw him recently, so that's what we do too."
Whether or not Watt makes the final cut, the placing of that crucial qualifier in Dublin on June 13 presents no shortage of logistical difficulties for the Scotland manager. With the exception of the play-offs, the Championship campaign south of the border ended yesterday, the best part of six weeks before the Dublin match, and four weeks before the Scottish domestic season winds up. Consequently, Strachan's squad will arrive in two groups, with one reporting for duty ahead of the meeting with Qatar at Easter Road on June 5, and those who feature in late-season games such as the play-offs, meeting up afterwards. While Charlie Mulgrew has indicated he should be fit to play, Grant Hanley's chances are less hopeful.
"I'll try to inform the ones who should be looking after themselves as well as they can after Saturday, depending on who's made the Championship play-offs," Strachan said. "I can't stop them going on holidays, they have to, for their wives and families."
Even the make-up of his backroom staff is subject to change. Strachan will leave it as late as possible before asking whether Rangers caretaker manager Stuart McCall would be willing or able to play his part.
"As I said to Stuart, we'll probably go to the end of May and have a wee blether," said Strachan. "We'll see what's happening then and see how he's feeling about the whole thing at the time. He might be buoyant, he might not. You have to take that into consideration."
Strachan was speaking to promote the PFA Scotland Manager of the Year award, which will be handed out at Glasgow's Hilton Hotel tonight. He has a growing sphere of influence in the game and there was a mention for Gary Caldwell, his former captain at Celtic, who is embarking on a career in management at recently-relegated Wigan. That club have fallen suddenly from the heights of being FA Cup winners, and although football is a business which confounds predictions, Strachan feels Caldwell has a work ethic and thirst for self improvement which will serve him well.
"Gary got the absolute maximum out of himself as a player, for someone who wasn't quick and wasn't tall," Strachan said. "He always wanted to learn. Paul Hartley was the same. Always asking questions. But you just can't gauge how anyone will do."
Gordon Strachan was speaking to publicise the PFA Scotland Manager of the Year award, sponsored by Cheque Centre, which will be presented at the Hilton Glasgow tonight
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