The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Still a mighty midfield
McCormack was the most indemand player in the Championship this summer after scoring 42 goals in two seasons for Fulham, with Aston Villa beating Norwich City to his £12million signing.
Strachan watched the 30-yearold as Villa drew 0-0 with Derby on Saturday but it was County striker Chris Martin who made the squad along with Steven Fletcher, Leigh Griffiths and Steven Naismith.
Fletcher, with eight goals, six of which came against Gibraltar in the Euro 2016 qualifiers, is the most prolific scorer.
The Scotland manager added: “You have to have a variation of players when you’re picking your squad so you can change the game, change the way you want to play at times.
“With the strikers, you have to have more rounded. I wish we could have everything but guys have their different strengths.”
“I have got to think what is best for the whole group.”
Griffiths appears certain to make more of a contribution to this campaign than the failed Euro 2016 qualification bid, which amounted to 15 minutes in Georgia.
The Celtic forward has continued where he left off following his 40-goal return last season and impressed Strachan in the 5-2 Champions League win over Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
“He was terrific last week,” Strachan said.
“Not only did he score two goals, he was involved in two goals. He is scoring different sorts of goals, the movement out the box is getting better over the last couple of years. So he is in a good place at the moment, that’s for sure.”