Armstrong targets Euro 2020 after being encouraged by fresh start

Scotland midfielder Stuart Armstrong remains optimistic about the future of the national team, despite the failure to qualify for next year’s World Cup.

The 25-year-old former Dundee United star will win his fifth cap for the national team in tonight’s friendly against the Netherlands at Pittodrie.

Armstrong missed last month’s double-header against Slovakia and Slovenia through injury, with a 2-2 draw against the Slovenians in Lubljana ending Gordon Strachan’s side’s hopes of reaching Russia next summer.

However, the Celtic midfielder has been encouraged by the fresh start under interim boss Malky Mackay and believes qualifying for Euro 2020 is a realistic target.

He said: “We are looking forward to the new objectives and a new campaign. For the players and staff, it feels like a new venture.

“Malky has been very good. The training has been really enjoyable. It’s been a short time together, only a couple of days. We’ve been getting used to a new style but it’s been good.

“It’s a chance for new individuals coming into the squad and team. It’s about gelling together as a team and looking forward to being part of a new group.

“The boys who were part of the last campaign are here with a desire to go one better next time. The desire is still there and you also have the new ambition of the fresh faces coming into the squad.

“As with any new manager coming in, every player wants to impress, keep their place in the team and come back time and time again.

“In the latter stages of the last campaign we showed what a good football team we are. The results were very positive. Within that, there are a lot of things to take positives from going forward.”

Armstrong, who grew up in Aberdeen and attended Hazlehead Academy, has enjoyed meeting up with some familiar faces at training this week.

While the inclusion of Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie drew some surprisingly fierce criticism from Kilmarnock forward Kris Boyd, Armstrong believes the Dons defensive midfielder merits his inclusion in the national team.

He said: “We played against Shinnie a short time ago and, although the game was comfortable in the end for Celtic, I thought he put in a very good individual performance.

“It is good to see because I have known him for a long time. He is a good guy and a good player. Ryan Christie is another boy I have known for a while. His dad Charlie used to take one of the Inverness teams the year below me.”