Scots hero Phillips desperate for Malta start

the bench a few times at Hampden but never managed to get on. I’ve never actually played on the pitch for Scotland so that’s something I’ll enjoy if I get the chance.

“Hopefully I can get in the manager’s team and take my form from Lithuania in the Malta game.”

Phillips should have been a regular starter for Scotland long before now, given his form in the Premier League with the Baggies.

He was a vital player for Tony Pulis in England’s top flight last term and he’s started this campaign well too.

Strachan was reluctant to select him at the start of this Russia 2018 campaign but Phillips is now keen to show his quality – and help fire Scotland to a potential play-off place.

He said: “Obviously, I’ve missed most of the games in this campaign but at times I have to say the boys have done really well.

“We were written off at the start of the section after a couple of poor results. But we’ve fought our way back into it now.

“Personally, I feel really good about my game right now and I’m enjoying my football at West Brom.

“I had a great chance to score the other night in the first half after a good run. I should have passed it into the net but instead I tried to take the leather off it!

“But apart from that I enjoyed the game and obviously the result which keeps us in contention.” Scotland’s revived bid for the play-offs now rolls into Glasgow tomorrow night where three points is a must against Group F whipping boys Malta.

England took four off them in Valetta on Friday – even if Gareth Southgate’s side left it late before securing their victory.

Phillips knows Strachan’s boys will need a similar display to the one they produced in Vilnius to get the job done at Hampden.

And then he’s hoping one or two of his England pals, including West Brom skipper Jake Livermorem (above), can help Scotland’s cause by seeing off Slovakia at Wembley on Monday.

Phillips said: “Against Malta we just need to be professional in doing our jobs. Of course, it would be nice if England could do us a turn at Wembley but we can only look after ourselves and try to make sure we win our game.

“If we do that, we’ll see where it takes us.”