SPIRIT OF ’98
Jackson: Celtic so dominant that Scotland must go green for Auld Enemy just like Craig Brown did at the World Cup
DARREN JACKSON believes Gordon Strachan has to go with the Celtic template against England.
The former Scotland striker is adamant the feelgood factor within the Parkhead group makes them the best choices to tackle Gareth Southgate’s troops at Hampden a week tomorrow.
Jackson’s been there before, after winning the title with Celtic in 1998 when Craig Brown selected a large collection of Hoops stars for the World Cup in France.
The positivity within the group rubbed off on colleagues and he believes the same thing could happen again.
Celtic’s squad won the Treble this term with two Hampden victories on the way.
Strachan used the model successfully with six featuring in the 1-0 win over Slovenia in the last qualifier and Jackson thinks an identical approach might be the way to go again.
He said: “People might look at it and ask why there are so many Celtic players.
“But you can’t get any more confident than the players who are playing for Celtic right now as they are at the top of their game.
“Whether it’s six or seven, if they need to be picked, they need to be picked.
“Just look at the ones who are playing well. Some of them were nominated for Player of the Year and they’ve all been excellent.
“Scott Brown should have been nominated. James Forrest has been excellent under Brendan Rodgers.
“You pick them on their performances, not because six or seven of them play for Celtic.
“France 98 was similar. When you think of Jonathan Gould, Tosh McKinlay, Jackie McNamara, Tom Boyd, Paul Lambert, Craig Burley, Simon Donnelly and myself.
“When Jorge Cadete signed we had to play Sporting Lisbon. So we won the league on the Saturday and went to Lisbon on the Sunday to play them.
“When we were coming back we were at the airport and the squad was announced. It was amazing.
“At that time we’d won the league so I can’t see any issue with it now.
“That belief spread throughout the squad. When you think of the England team around then, the number of Manchester United players in it such as David Beckham, Paul Scholes, the Nevilles, Teddy Sheringham.
“If you are successful at club level you take that on to the international stage. It doesn’t matter who you are playing against. You are confident. Hopefully they can take that into the England game and do themselves proud.”
Jackson takes particular interest in players such as Hull’s Andy Robertson who he coached during his spell at Dundee United.
Celtic’s Stuart Armstrong was another Tannadice tearway and Jackson said: “Stuart’s playing under a manager who’s given him huge confidence. I’d like to think Jackie, Simon, Craig Hinchcliffe and I played a little part in his development but he’s taken it to a new level this year.
“He’s been absolutely sensational and it’s just a question of learning.
“Sometimes he plays in a two with Broony. Now Stuart’s not really a defender but at Celtic you can play that because you will get forward and Broony will sit there.
“At other clubs you couldn’t really have that because you’ve not got the ball as much.
“The manager has been clever enough to see he likes to get forward so he can maybe sacrifice that because Broony sits there and does such a great job.
“It’s easy to say you saw it in him but of course you did. He was different class for us.
“That’s why he got his move to
Celtic. Ronny Deila saw the potential so you’ve got to give him the credit but Brendan is really bringing it out of him.
“I still speak to him and a lot of the United boys. We’d a great rapport with the players. You feel a bit of pride because you are setting them off on the right path.
“People did that for us and you just tried to do the same for them.”
Jackson believes Scotland can get a result against the English.
He added: “Anything can happen. It’s like an Old Firm game.
“Have they got better players? Yes. Of course they have. But when it comes to this game, at Hampden, I’m sure the boys will be well up for it.
“We were brilliant at Wembley. The first goal is always important in any game.
“England, with the crowd behind them, got that goal and went on to win but it was never a 3-0. I still thought Scotland were great that night. “The players and the manager took a bit of criticism after it which I felt was unjust. “You’ve got to keep hoping. We do have good players. No doubt about that and Gordon is the right manager as well. “I’d two months with him and would have loved to have spent my career with him. It was a fantastic learning curve. He’s the right man for the job. “I know it’s hard when we haven’t been qualifying but hopefully we can get behind him for the England game, get a result and get confidence back. “We need the fans to see we are progressing and there is light at the end of the tunnel.”