Armstrong has Strachan’s faith

GORDON STRACHAN insists he has ‘no qualms’ about throwing Stuart Armstrong into his Scotland starting XI for the do-or-die World Cup qualifier against Slovenia. And, without a first-choice striker in form at club level, he’ll be looking for his entire midfield contingent to provide the goal threat needed to breathe life into

a failing campaign. The national team boss, who knows the Scots must beat Slovenia at Hampden on Sunday night to have any chance of reaching next summer’s finals in Russia, confirmed yesterday that former Under-21 captain Armstrong will not be risked in tomorrow night’s friendly against Canada at Easter Road. And that’s because he wants Celtic’s free-scoring midfielder, who took his tally for the season to 12 with a header in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Dundee, to be in peak condition for the crucial Group F clash. ‘Stuart won’t play against Canada,’ said the Scotland boss. ‘He’s playing really well at the moment. ‘He’s moved to central midfield, the position everyone thought was best for him. Tom Cairney’s the same, their ability and power has come on. ‘Stuart has a real personality on the pitch now. The move has worked out amazingly for him. The manager moved him, but he has had to take that opportunity and he’s grabbed it with both hands. ‘I would have no qualms putting him in. A lot of them are the same. You look at some areas of the team, midfield, out wide, and think: “Wow, that’s strong”.’ Two players certain to feature against Canada are Fulham midfielder Cairney and Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser, with Strachan squeezing in a training session yesterday specifically to give the new call-ups a chance to start slotting into the squad. ‘They will get game time, certainly,’ he said. ‘I wanted a training session today because I wanted to make sure that people could see how Tom plays, see how Ryan plays. ‘I want them to get to know these players, rather than just throwing them on a pitch.’