I want Leigh to keep on banging in these goals...even if they keepmeoutofteam

CHRIS Martin has backed Leigh Griffiths to fire Scotland to the World Cup in Russia next summer – even if it means keeping him out of Gordon Strachan’s starting eleven.

Three months after he was booed onto the fray against Slovenia only to score the last-gasp winner which kept our hopes of Russia alive, Martin had a lowerkey, yet not inconsiderable, role as a nuisance factor as Griffiths’ twin free-kicks almost brought the Hampden house down on Saturday, prior to Harry Kane’s late sickener.

The 28-year-old, who will return to Derby County after a loan spell at Fulham this summer, is well aware England’s late equaliser was avoidable and fears that that the dropped points “might end up costing us”.

But he also feels that Scotland are capable of the four wins which could yet be enough for a play-off place and Griffiths can build on his first two goals for his country and hugely accomplished display against England besides.

“I’ve not seen him in as many games as you guys have but we know the quality he [Griffiths] possesses, especially with his finishing and his free kicks,” Martin added.

“He’s got a helluva left foot on him. But I think his all-round contribution was very good. It’s not just the goals but the way he was putting himself about, holding the ball up, bringing people into play, the runs he was making in behind.

“I thought a few people had good games but for Griff it’s something he can build on now. He’s scored his first goals for Scotland and hopefully he can continue to score goals and fire us to qualification.”

CONSIDERING his previous relationship with the Tartan Army, things had come full circle to an extent when Martin left Hampden Park on Saturday night eulogising them for creating “one of the best atmospheres he had ever played in”.

“Was it t wo points dropped?” said Martin, whose father Gerry hails from Easterhouse. “I don’t know if we can analyse it like that right now.

“We will just take that game at face value and say it’s disappointing to not hold on to all three points. In the context of the group, it might end up costing us.

“But we have got four games now and they are all winnable so we need to go into them with the mentality that we can win them all and see where we go.

“We knew before the game that England are a very good side, full of quality, playing right at the top level,” he added.

“So I can see why [they are unbeaten i n qualifying matches for eight years], for sure, but we matched them for large periods. They had a lot of possession but I didn’t think they created a massive amount. I think we at least deserved a draw. And maybe we could have gone on and won it.

“The crowd were tremendous – they really spurred us on. I think that’s one of the best atmospheres I’ve played in front of. You want to be the man that the crowd are shouting for and singing your name.

The lads got encouragement from it, especially in the second half. We grew in belief as the game wore on.

“We’re just disappointed we weren’t able to win the game and send them home happy.”

While the disappointment is sure to linger on for most of the summer, Martin said that it was important that Scotland build on this performance.

For all Strachan’s detractors, the national team’s last two results are a win and a draw against much-vaunted opponents, which was so nearly a win.

Martin added: “But hopefully we can build on this because we were ever so close.

“There are going to be a certain amount of people saying that we should have seen it through, but the only option now is to try and learn from it and move on positively.”