McFadden has good news for Hearts striker
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Steven Naismith is in line for a Scotland recall when Alex McLeish names his squad to face Belgium and Albania.
The Hearts striker won the last of his 45 caps in the 1-0 World Cup qualifier win over Slovenia at Hampden in March, 2017. Under the new manager, he has yet to feature. McLeish’s assistant, James McFadden, says that is about to change when the squad is announced tomorrow week. “There are places up for grabs in the striking role. We need guys playing regularly and scoring goals,” said McFadden. “Steven Naismith has started the season strongly. He looks sharp. “Last season he maybe didn’t have a full pre-season, or play enough games. He looked as if he was needing time to get up to speed. “We’ve never said Steven Naismith is done with Scotland. Naisy is still only 31. “He’s been forgotten about because he hasn’t played. He went to Norwich City from Everton and it didn’t work out for him. “When he came up to Hearts last season, he looked a bit short of sharpness. “But, as I say, he has managed to get a full pre-season and he’s started the campaign well. “He is experienced. He is a guy who knows how to play a number of positions in international football. “And, like the manager has said since we came in, nobody will be discounted, regardless of their age. “As long as they’re playing well and are eligible for Scotland, we’ll definitely have a look at them. “Steven has always wanted to continue playing for Scotland. There has never been any vibe to the contrary. “Myself and the manager have spoken to him. As far as I’m aware, there’s been no intimation that he wants to give up on it. “It’s great to have guys like that, guys who want to play. And not because it might enhance their reputation – just because they want to do well for Scotland. “That’s what we need, guys who will pull in that same direction. Naisy certainly falls into that category.” The visit of Belgium to the national stadium on September 7 – a friendly arranged to help the build-up to the Nations League ties – will be of extra significance for McFadden, as it will provide him with a reunion with a former Motherwell team-mate who has done rather well for himself. “I played with (Belgium manager) Roberto Martinez. We were in the same team at Motherwell,” McFadden continued. “He came in as an older head when I was a young player at Fir Park. He was a great guy and brilliant for the dressing room. “He was a tidy footballer, and you can see why his teams play the way they do. “Roberto was always approachable as a young player if you needed any advice, so it’s great to see him doing well. “We got on well, he was a good laugh at Motherwell. Even then, he did a lot of work for SKY TV as a pundit on their Spanish football coverage. “For me, that was a sign that he’d become a manager. He was always interested in speaking about that side of the game. “I played against his Swansea team, and he started their footballing philosophy before Brendan Rodgers took it on. “Whenever I’ve met him, we’ve always had a warm embrace and I’ve got good memories of our time together at Motherwell when I was still trying to learn the game.” Those days are past now. McFadden’s current concern is how to help Alex McLeish plot the downfall of the team who finished third in the World Cup. “Belgium were one of the better teams in Russia, so much so that no one would have been surprised if they had gone on to win it,” he said. “So it’s a fantastic opportunity for us to play against an opponent of that calibre. “The challenge for the young players we’ve got is to go and make a name for themselves in a Scotland shirt. “When you’re a young boy growing up, you dream of scoring a winning goal at Hampden for your country, or in a cup final or in the Champions League. “I was lucky enough to do it for Scotland. “For the kids now, that has to be their aim. “We’re trying to build a young, exciting team, and hopefully it’ll be a team effort. “But within that, someone might have to step up and grab the glory. Someone has to score the winning goal. “Everyone should want to be the hero. “Hopefully we can find someone to do that.”