ONLY MAN FOR THE JOB

Dalglish backs Clarke to change Scots’ fortunes

It’s in the most capable hands at the moment. We just need to be patient

Scotland’s most-capped — and, many would say, our greatestever — footballer has backed steve clarke to be the man who will end 22 years of hurt by leading the country to the Euro 2020 finals next summer.

Kenny dalglish played at three World cup finals during an international career which spanned 15 years, 102 appearances and 30 goals.

He also appointed clarke as his assistant during his second spell as manager of liverpool, when they won the league cup and lost in the final of the Fa cup to chelsea.

Working with him on a daily basis, dalglish saw up close the younger man’s qualities as a coach and his ability to communicate with, and improve, players on the training ground.

consequently, when alex Mcleish was dismissed last season while clarke was guiding Kilmarnock to their highest league position for 53 years, he would have been stunned if sFa chief executive Rod Petrie had had any other names on his shortlist to replace him.

‘When the scotland job came up, stevie had been at Kilmarnock and there were four Manager of the Year awards to be handed out — and he won three of them,’ noted dalglish.

‘If the sFa hadn’t gone and asked him to become the manager, then they would have been crucified. so they’ve gone to the right man and now he just needs to get results. He’ll get them, too.

‘I know the last game was only against san Marino but I thought we played well.

‘You obviously take into account what san Marino’s standing is, but we’d played them seven times previously and hadn’t beaten them by 6-0 before.

‘they scored some good goals that night and also played some decent football, despite a fear the game might be abandoned due to the flooding on the pitch.

‘I thought they did really well and, against Russia, they had started promisingly but lost a goal and then capitulated after that.

‘scotland still have a chance to qualify through the play-offs (in March) and that should be a sign of encouragement for us.

‘It’s maybe not a second chance but a third chance to get through and, if we can take it, then we should take it.’

clarke has proved he is willing to think outside the box as he did when calling up dundee United’s lawrence shankland from the scottish championship for the qualifying matches against Russia and san Marino.

Unsurprisingly, the 24-year-old did not start in Moscow but he came on from the bench — and then led the line against the group’s whipping boys at Hampden, scoring in his first start.

‘It doesn’t matter to stevie where they are playing — shankland (below) came in against san Marino and did well,’ said dalglish. ‘It was the perfect game for him as he’s a goalscorer.

‘He only scored one but he was in the box every time the ball came in and you’re going to score goals if you get into the box.

‘It may be going to extremes because it was only san Marino but it doesn’t matter; it showed stevie can pick players to play in a position and to play in a game that suits them.

‘that suited the boy and I thought he did well. of course, that doesn’t mean to say he’ll play in the next game but it gives everyone else an incentive to say there might be a place there for them as well.’ dalglish helped scotland end a 16-year exile from the big stage when he was part of the team which qualified for the World cup finals in 1974 and he believes clarke can end a drought which has lasted since France ’98. ‘It’s in the most capable hands it could be at this moment in time,’ he claimed. ‘the results may not have been great but it doesn’t take away stevie’s knowledge or his ability to get results. It’s just about patience. ‘He will take it forward and I think we’re getting stronger on the pitch. ‘the person who was best suited for the job was stevie.’ apart from clarke pulling the strings, dalglish’s optimism is also fuelled by the number of scottish players plying their trade in England’s top tier. ‘I’d only seen him on television before but I got a better idea of John McGinn when aston Villa played liverpool,’ he said. ‘He’s done brilliantly down there and we’ve bypassed the fact he played in their promotion-winning team, as well.

‘He’s come into the Premier league this season and done very well.

‘the better the scottish players do down south, then the better chance we have of moving forward as a national team.

‘the boys are playing at a higher level now than what they have been for a few years.

‘We have more scots in England again, like John Fleck, who’s been doing well for sheffield United. Unfortunately, two of the best players — andy Robertson and Kieran tierney — play in the same position.

‘However, our players are improving and playing at a higher level and the higher level they are at then the better chance we have of getting a decent side together.’

dalglish was asked whether he felt that celtic’s callum McGregor, James Forrest and Ryan christie would be a success down south, but he is convinced they can continue to thrive and achieve their ambitions while remaining at Parkhead.

‘celtic don’t play at a lower level,’ he said. ‘Rangers play at a high level. I don’t know why, whenever anyone does well at those clubs, that the media wants to sell them.

‘It’s not the club who want to sell them and, if you’re with either of them and doing well and there are teams in England or Europe who don’t know about you, then that’s their problem.

‘other clubs wouldn’t be doing their homework if they weren’t looking at these players but not everyone has the aspiration to go and play in England — some are happy to play in scotland and, if you’re not happy, then you don’t play at your best.

‘the boy Billy Gilmour is pretty close at chelsea, so there are a few kids floating about and they have as good a chance of doing well at either celtic or Rangers than they would have down south.’