GARETH PLAYS THE GREATEST HITS

GARETH SOUTHGATE will show his players a montage of England’s greatest moments against Scotland to prepare them for Friday’s World Cup showdown at Wembley. The interim England manager has instructed his backroom team to collate a showreel he believes can help secure the win that will cement their place at the top of Group F. Asked ahead of the first competitive meeting between the nations in 17 years if the current generation of players appreciated the game’s historical significance, Southgate replied: ‘It’s the oldest international fixture, the history between the two countries... if they don’t understand that, and I’m pretty sure they do, we’ll make sure in the early part of the week they’re aware of that. ‘I will show the players a montage of some historical stuff. Some of them are in a couple of the clips. That and caps and medals is what football is about. ‘We have some black and white stuff — that I am not in — and it’s been really nicely done. ‘You play for England and you are only looking after the shirt for the next person to come through. So there is some humility about that. ‘All of those people have worn those numbers before and that is a good message for our players as well.’ Asked if the montage only consisted of England wins, Southgate smiled: ‘I didn’t see any keepy-uppies or anybody sitting on the crossbars.’ Southgate’s side face a Scotland team boosted by the inclusion of Scott Brown, following the midfielder’s volte-face on international retirement. And the man whose future will be decided by the outcome of Friday’s game and next week’s friendly with Spain believes Gordon Strachan’s side will be much the better for the fact it can now call upon the services of a man he once tried to sign for Middlesbrough. Asked if he was surprised at Brown’s U-turn, Southgate said: ‘No, because I’m aware what it means to the Scottish players to play in a fixture like this — and it would seem that Scott and Gordon have a very strong relationship from their time at Celtic. ‘Scott Brown is a player I was trying to get to Middlesbrough from Hibs, but he had his heart set on going to Celtic. ‘All teams want leaders and people who have the qualities Scott has. I’m sure they will feel that adds to their group.’