Strachan is playing for more time

From Back Page are undefeated in their last seven games, would move Scotland to within just a point of their opponents ahead of the visit of the Auld Enemy to Glasgow on June 10.

Strachan agreed a new deal after just missing out on a Euro 2016 play-off place and McGhee said: “He desperately wants to keep the job but I don’t think he is letting that worry him.

“If we win on Sunday night the chances are we will be going into the England game and having the same conversation, ‘What if we don’t win?’ and, ‘What about Gordon’s job?’.

“You have to take it game by game. I don’t think whether he loses his job or not has any bearing on the team he picks, the tactics or how he approaches the job on Sunday night.

“All that matters is Sunday night. The sense I get is he is not thinking beyond the game.

“Gordon loves the job and more than anything else wants to win to keep us in contention with a chance of qualifying.

“But of course, within himself, he wants to win because he wants to keep doing the job. He wants to go into the England game still in with a chance.”

Scotland were jeered off by the fed-up Tartan Army following Wednesday’s 1-1 warm-up draw against Canada at Easter Road and McGhee admitted they must win back the fans.

But the 59-year-old insists there will be changes from that match and confessed he’d be worried if he was going into such a huge game with the same team that lined up in Edinburgh.

Many fringe players blew their chance to force their way into Strachan’s thoughts and McGhee said: “If we were sitting here saying the team we had against Canada is the same team that’s going to play on Sunday night then I tell you what I would be worried.

“But the team will change. The fans need something to celebrate and something to hang their hat on.

“We have to win them back. One result can change that.

“Imagine how people will feel if we get that going into the England game. It can all change on one result.”

Leaving Motherwell was disappointing but I have been sacked six times so I’ll get over it MARK McGHEE