Scotland urged to seize chance and keep the dream alive

Russell Martin has urged Scotland to grasp the opportunity awaiting them in Lithuania on Friday night as they prepare to make their final surge towards Russia.

Gordon Strachan’s side face a crucial World Cup qualifier in Vilnius, with their hopes of progress once again hanging by a thread.

But Norwich defender Martin reckons victory over Edgaras Jankauskas’ side, followed by another win in Monday’s Hampden clash with Malta, could fire them back into contention as the Group F race enters the final straight.

Slovakia, who sit second, four points in front of the Scots, take on third-placed Slovenia and leaders England this weekend and Martin hopes results elsewhere will open the door for Scotland to make a late run to next year’s finals.

“We all feel there’s an opportunity to be grasped here,” said the centre-back, whose side finish their qualifying campaign with an October double-header against Slovakia (home) and Slovenia (away).

“We have got a game on Friday that if we get the right result sets us up nicely for the last three.

“I think we’ve got a chance to build up some momentum now with the games we have left, especially if you look at the other fixtures this weekend.

“Come the end of these two games, the table could look massively different to the way it is now, setting us up for two huge final games.”

Russell insists that even during the dark days of this campaign, no one inside Strachan’s group ever gave up.

He said: “I think the England game has recharged everyone on the outside, but we inside the squad never lost that inner belief that we can qualify.

“We knew how difficult the first four or five games would be and what we were up against.

“I think we were prepared for that performance in June, even if no one else saw it coming.”

Russell Martin: chance to build up some momentum.