Five things Mcleish has to address

Courier Sport looks at five things in Mcleish’s in tray during his first few months in charge.

Win the fans over:

Mcleish left his Scotland role in between qualifying campaigns but the nature of his departure in November 2007 did not go down well with some supporters. The former Rangers manager quit two days after the World Cup qualifying draw after the SFA rejected an approach from Birmingham. The appointment of the 59-year-old – almost four months after Gordon Strachan was sacked for failing to qualify for the World Cup – will also leave many fans underwhelmed given his managerial record since being sacked by Aston Villa in 2012 only features short spells at Nottingham Forest, Belgian club Genk and Zamalek of Egypt. Having failed to land Michael O’neill, the SFA has now appointed someone who previously failed to qualify.

Speak to Strachan:

Mcleish’s close friendship with his former Aberdeen and Scotland team-mate survived the Old Firm rivalry when both were in opposing dugouts. The former Celtic manager is likely to provide Mcleish with an insight into his former squad which might not always be on offer from departed bosses.

Appoint a backroom staff:

Mcleish’s long-time assistant Andy Watson left a second spell as Scotland coach in 2016 to become technical director of a football school in Oman. Former Dundee boss Alex Rae acted as his number two in Belgium and is available. Mcleish may also liaise with SFA performance director Malky Mackay after the interim manager made several changes to the backroom team.

Speak to senior players:

Captain Scott Brown was openly critical of the decision to sack his former Celtic boss Strachan and the SFA’S subsequent dithering over the recruitment of a successor. But the midfielder has still declared himself keen to play for Scotland and has worked under Mcleish for the national team as well as during his early years in the Hibernian youth ranks. Mcleish will also determine whether the likes of Darren Fletcher, Russell Martin and Allan Mcgregor have another campaign left in them.

Prepare for his first games:

Mcleish only has a few weeks before picking his first squad ahead of the visit of Costa Rica to Hampden on March 23 and the trip to Hungary four days later. The former Aberdeen defender has been working as a TV pundit in Scottish football so knows the territory well. A more challenging selection awaits as he tries to find enough players to go on a heavily criticised post-season trip to Peru and Mexico. His first competitive game will come against Albania at home on September 10 in the Uefa Nations League.