Faddy: Top tier deserves credit

JAMES McFadden reckons it is time the Premiership gets the credit it deserves as he backed Alex McLeish’s decision to pack his squad with local stars.

While former Scotland manager Gordon Strachan seemed reluctant to hand out call-ups to those playing north of the border, the new boss has no such qualms.

Among the 21 players who will today jet out for Peru and Mexico, 13 are based in Scotland.

That number should rise further down the line once Craig Gordon, Kieran Tierney, Callum McGregor, James Forrest and Leigh Griffiths – all rested for this trip – return, while their Hoops colleague Stuart Armstrong, Rangers keeper Allan McGregor and Hearts defender John Souttar would also be crossing the Atlantic had i njury not forced them to pull out.

The likes of Hibs defender Lewis Stevenson, Kilmarnock right-back Stephen O’Donnell and Motherwell wideman Chris Cadden have received their first cap calls on the back of outstanding Premiership campaigns, with Lewis Morgan even i ncluded having shone during St Mirren’s Championship triumph.

McFadden said: “I’ve been championing them too because I’ve played in both England and Scotland and I understand that just because you play up here doesn’t mean you’re not good enough for international football.

“There is a misconception about how strong our league is.”

Scotland coach James McFadden