Talking points

DEBUTANTS

Gordon Strachan has four uncapped players in his squad after Leeds defender Liam Cooper was called up to join Tom Cairney, Ryan Fraser and Stuart Armstrong. Armstrong has been tipped to sit out the game given he played for Celtic on Sunday, but the others could put themselves in Strachan’s thoughts and win a place on the bench for Sunday’s crucial qualifier at Hampden. Cooper comes in following an injury to Grant Hanley, Cairney has been earning rave reviews in central midfield for Fulham, while former Aberdeen winger Fraser has burst onto the Premier League scene with Bournemouth in recent months.

NEW-LOOK DEFENCE

Hanley misses out with an ankle injury picked up in only his second league start for Newcastle in 2017. The centreback is the only ever-present in Strachan’s back four during the World Cup campaign so far but his place had been under severe scrutiny from fans. Christophe Berra replaced Russell Martin in the most recent qualifier at Wembley and both have been playing regularly in the EFL Championship along with Charlie Mulgrew, who is available again after injury. The heart of defence has been Scotland’s problem position in recent times and tonight could give a new pairing time to adapt to each other.

CROWD TROUBLE

Little over 5,000 fans are expected at Easter Road. After consecutive 3-0 defeats a small crowd is unsurprising but getting less than half of the 14,033 crowd which turned up at the same venue for Hibs’ most recent Championship clash with Dumbarton would be an embarrassment. The SFA will surely look at their ticket pricing as a result – £22 for a live televised midweek friendly against a team ranked 117th in the world has clearly not worked.

FEELGOOD FACTOR

Heavy defeats against Slovakia and England, which came on top of a home draw against Lithuania, have left Scotland facing an uphill struggle to finish second in their World Cup group. Strachan has admitted Sunday’s visit of Slovenia is a “must-win” game. And nothing but a comfortable victory over Canada will inspire confidence ahead of the Hampden crunch.