CHARLIE MULGREW
Aiming for the World Cup from League One
CHARLIE MULGREW is determined to stay in Scotland’s “lefty” defence where everything has gone right in the last two matches.
The Scots have found keeping goals out difficult in recent years, but they delivered clean sheets against Lithuania and Malta.
It looks like the central defensive partnership of Mulgrew and Christophe Berra is the one that will line-up in next month’s crunch match against Slovakia at Hampden.
Another victory is essential to keep Gordon Strachan’s men in the running for a World Cup qualifying play-off spot.
Mulgrew, now playing in England’s third tier with Blackburn Rovers, is one of five left-footed players in Scotland’s defence for the last two games.
The 31-year-old is desperate to keep playing for his country.
He said: “No matter what level you’re playing at, you always want to be involved with Scotland.
“When you drop down a division, there’s always a worry that you might not get picked.
“So when you do get in, you have to step up and do a job. I love playing for Scotland and being part of it.
“The understanding between myself and Christophe is good. He’s a top defender, who does the basics very well.
“But it’s not just us, it’s the whole back four and those in front of us working as a unit.”
Craig Gordon, Kieran Tierney and Andrew Robertson make up Scotland’s unorthodox backline, and you’d need to do a bit of searching to find another Scotland defence without a right-footer in it.
Mulgrew agrees, adding: “I’ve never played in a back five where everyone is left-footed, including the goalie.
“It’s different but we never conceded and that’s down to the whole team, starting from the front.
“The two wins are as comfortable as I can remember playing for Scotland. Certainly, the Lithuania game was the most comfortable I’ve ever felt in an away game.
“That’s a big thanks to the boys at Celtic because they work in a certain way.
“There are a few of them in the team now, and they drag everyone else with them.”
Mulgrew first played for his country in February, 2012 in a 1- 1 draw with Slovenia, who will provide the opposition for what could be a crucial World Cup qualifier next month.
The defender, who won his 29th cap
against Malta, is optimistic about Scotland’s chances of making Russia next year but he’s not getting carried away after the two recent victories.
He went on: “It’s a nice feeling knowing that it’s in our hands now, but we’ve not achieved anything yet. We’ve only won a couple of games.
“We’re happy but we have to move on.
“We might have been written off at the start of the campaign but, as players, you have to keep believing.
“We’re pleased to be in this position but there’s a long way to go. The end goal is to be at the World Cup and that’s still going to be difficult.
“Every team wants to be there but it’ll
be hard. We desperately want that play-off spot.”
The other battle facing Mulgrew is at club level, where Blackburn Rovers have made a stuttering start to their bid to revive former glories, having been relegated from the Championship last season.
Mulgrew admits: “It’s a case of every player getting their head down and working hard.
“We’re in the position we’re in and we have to get ourselves back to where the club wants to be.
“No- one wanted to drop down to League One. We were all disappointed. But everyone at the club is rallying together and wants to fix it.”