A lot of it is down to mindset – you must try to see England as equals

he has to deal with Dele Alli. He drifts into areas where it’s hard to follow.

Does your midfielder track him? Does a defender pick him up? It needs good lines of communication.

He will be key for England. There will be moments when he’ll drift out of the game – to a point where you think he’s not being effective – but then he’ll reappear where you’re least expecting him to hurt you.

So yes, England have world class players – but this is Scotland v England.

I faced them a few times, never in a qualifier to be fair, but in a few warm-ups and tournaments. And the gulf, or at least the perceived gulf, was very similar.

It was enormous when I played my first one as a teen. England were streets ahead, playing us at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium when we were still having to play games at Dam Park in Ayr. Over the years, though, the gap has definitely closed.

But a lot of it is down to your mindset – you must try to see them as equals.

There’s no gulf in terms of the way you plan to play against England. In the heads of national team players they will go out knowing that if they play well and their own fans back them, they have every chance of getting a result at Hampden.

The Tartan Army have been crying out for a result in the Auld Enemy game for more than 30 years – and they will be desperate to get behind the team.

As long as we don’t lose an early goal our hopes can grow as the night goes on.

I always feel anything can happen in these games. The place will be buzzing. You just hope we’re not out of World Cup qualifying by the end.