UNTIL such a time as association football borrows an innovation from its American counterpart, it is rather difficult to see how Charlie Adam can perform a significant role for Scotland.

Adam made his first appearance for his country in exactly 14 months in the friendly international with Qatar on Friday evening when he came on as a second half substitute.

In his half an hour on the park at Easter Road, the 29-year-old showed what he has to contribute to the national team in the remainder of their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign and beyond.

The Stoke City midfielder shelled a succession of high curling balls into dangerous positions deep in the opposition penalty box from all areas of the field with his wand of left foot.

Gordon Strachan had, due to the diminutiveness of his forwards Shaun Maloney, Steven Naismith and Leigh Griffiths, not advocated such a direct approach in the build-up to the outing. With good reason. It didn't yield any goals.

But that was unimportant. The run-out against the Gulf state wasn't a competitive fixture. It presented an opportunity for the Scotland manager to give several players game time, experiment with a variety of different permutations and take a look at those pushing for inclusion in his first team in a match environment.

Adam is certainly one of those. The former Rangers, Blackpool and Liverpool man has enjoyed a fine campaign in the Premier League in England at a far higher level than many of those who are regular starters, like Ikechi Anya, Scott Brown, Gordon Greer, Shaun Maloney, David Marshall, Russell Martin and Charlie Mulgrew, currently operate at.

The highlight of a fine season was, of course, his goal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. He netted from just outside the centre circle in his own half, from fully 64 yards out, after he spotted Thibaut Courtois, the Belgian goalkeeper, had strayed off his goal line.

Strachan is pertinacious. But did that one moment of magic, and the adulation which was showered on his compatriot after it, force him to name the player in his 26-man squad for the double header with Qatar and the Republic of Ireland? Omitting such a skilful star from his pool would have lead to rumblings among some Tartan Army footsoldiers. Especially if form dipped and a poor result followed.

But even now that Adam, who last featured in a competitive match with Scotland in a World Cup qualifier against Serbia over two years ago, is part of the set-up once again it is unlikely he will start in a meaningful fixture.

He has improved his all-round game as he has matured and now contributes far more to a match than just a penetrating delivery and occasional eye-catching goal. He still doesn't, however, possess the sort of aerial prowess, ball-winning ability, pace, physicality and work ethic that his national manager demands in his position.

Scotland's 2-1 defeat to Wales in Cardiff in a World Cup qualifier in 2012 highlighted all that is good and bad about the Dundonian. He set up Steven Fletcher with a perfectly legitimate goal that was wrongly chalked off by the referee with a sublime inswinger. He promptly allowed Gareth Bale to run in on goal from fully 35 yards out and score a late winner.

It will be a surprise if Adam is given the nod ahead of Brown, Darren Fletcher, James McArthur, James Morrison or even, despite his lack of competitive action this season, Mulgrew in his favoured central berth in the Group D match against the Republic in Dublin on Saturday evening or any Euro 2016 qualifiers after that.

In American football, a designated kicker is brought on after a touchdown has been scored in an attempt to add an extra point or when a field goal needs to be taken. Calling on Adam when a free-kick is won in the vicinity of the rival goal or a corner kick has to be whipped in would be hugely beneficial for Scotland. Nobody, not even Mulgrew, can do such damage at a dead ball situation.

But, as things stand, he still appears to be a luxury that a committed and well-organised and side can ill afford to involve from kick-off at international level.

AND ANOTHER THING . . .

XAVI Hernandez's contribution to the great Barcelona and Spain sides he has been a member in the last 17 years has often been eclipsed by the brilliance of those in front of him.

Luis Figo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o, Lionel Messi, David Villa and, more recently, Neymar and Luis Suaraez have taken the acclaim of the football world for their mesmerising trickery and goalscoring exploits.

Yet Xavi, who came off the bench to help Barca beat Juventus 3-1 in Berlin on Saturday and complete the La Liga, Copa del Ray and Champions League treble for the second time in his career on his final appearance for the Nou Camp club, was every bit as important to the success enjoyed by his club and country.

The 35-year-old, a product of the fabled La Masia youth academy, was the embodiment of the tika-taka passing style perfected by the Catalans and deserves to be remembered as not just as one of the world's greatest ever midfielders but as one of the best players of all-time.