Warbs: ‘Lee is the man for Wembley’
MARK WARBURTON last night insisted Lee Wallace was the man for Scotland at Wembley.
The Rangers skipper hasn’t played for the country since 2013 when he came off the bench against USA.
However, with Andrew Robertson and Kieran Tierney both out of the crucial World Cup qualifier because of injury, he is now in line for a start against Raheem Sterling & Co.
Some have questioned whether, after his years away from the top flight, the 29-year-old is ready for that challenge, with Swansea’s Stephen Kingsley touted as a possible alternative.
Warburton, who watched the full back score the first goal in Rangers 3-0 win over Kilmarnock yesterday, gave him a resounding vote of confidence.
“Have no doubts about Lee Wallace,” he said. “He is a top class professional and an outstanding captain of this club.
“I never have any worries about him and neither should anyone else.
“He showed exactly what he is capable of again here and scored a very good goal.”
Scotland coach Gordon Strachan is considering his options for the position ahead of naming his squad on Wednesday.
It is almost certain to include a recall for Kingsley, capped in the friendly against France, as well as Aberdeen’s Graeme Shinnie.
Wallace can take comfort from his earlier inclusion in a comment from Strachan about the country having “three excellent left-backs”.
Mark Warburton has meanwhile challenged Rangers to build on yesterday’s win, their best performance of the season so far.
“That is the standard we are after – now they have to maintain it,” he said.
“If we can maintain that tempo, playing the ball forward not backwards and square then we will do well.
“But you have got to have the forward options available to do that and today the boys on the ball had four or five options.
“So I was pleased with the afternoon’s work. Now we have a welldeserved break of a couple of days before getting back to work preparing for the game against Ross County.”