It’s green for go

● With Georgia still on his mind, Mcleish plans system change to accommodate flying Celtic winger

The last time Alex Mcleish was on Scotland duty in the Promised Land he produced a gift for the king. He still proudly remembers his headed assist for Kenny Dalglish to score the second-half winner over Israel in a World Cup qualifier in 1981.

He also recalls the disarray Scotland were in as they attempted to road-test a three-at-the-back system which Jock Stein wisely abandoned at half-time. It hasn’t put him off making changes to the formation now he is back at the helm; nor should it.

Tonight’s Nations League qualifier is Mcleish’s first competitive away fixture as manager since the crushing defeat to Georgia in 2007, which means there’s a need to confront a chief regret from his first spell in charge: sticking rigidly to a system against his better judgement. Georgia really is always on his mind.

If Scotland had managed a victory that night in Tbilisi, as they are aiming to do here in Haifa this evening in similar circumstances given it’s a winnable fixture, then everything could well have been different. A desperation that is attached to every campaign these days in light of Scotland’s long exclusion from major finals might not be so keenly felt.

“I went with the same one that was successful for us three days earlier at Hampden against Ukraine,” recalled Mcleish.

“We were outnumbered a bit in midfield, but we were also not prone to losing bad goals. We lost one from a corner, a flick on and a scramble in. We were denied a penalty, but aside from that, if I could take things back, I’d have played three in the middle.”

Now he’s considering switching to 3-4-3. James Forrest’s impressive performance for Celtic against St Johnstone last weekend means he’s almost certain to start tonight. What’s the point in Mcleish urging those left frustrated last time around to show him what they can do for their clubs if he doesn’t then reward those who do exactly that?

The Celtic winger has done all he can after sitting disconsolately on the bench for both 90 minutes in Scotland’s last double-header; he was one of only two outfield players not to see action. Callum Paterson, absent completely this time around, was the other.

The 2-0 win over Albania proved bittersweet for Forrest. Clearly happy his side had got their campaign off to a promising start, he also watched Stephen O’donnell thunder down the right flank in the wing-back role.

The Kilmarnock player’s inclusion made it difficult for Mcleish to accommodate Forrest. Mcleish was sensitive to the player’s predicament. It can’t be easy dealing with the mixed emotions Forrest experienced that night. Mcleish made sure they spoke before the players all left. He threw down the gauntlet; prove me wrong. Bhoy has he done that.

“That was the motivation,” beamed Mcleish. “I spoke with James very briefly after the Albania game and I could see he was upset and desperate to play. I can’t ask for more than that. It’s hard to guarantee anyone a game.

“That’s probably one of my last Sunday. That doesn’t necessarily mean we play five in midfield all of the time.

We can go 3-4-3 and that gives us scope with the very good wingers we have.

“I think we have to be flexible,” he added. “You look at the World Cup. Russia played four most of the time and then changed to a three – realistically it was a five – at the back.

“We need to be prepared tactically