Hanley happy with healthy fight for place

NO longer a problem position. When was the last time you could say that about the centre of Scotland’s defence? With six in-form players contending for three places, Steve Clarke suddenly has options to play with. And Premier League-bound Norwich captain Grant Hanley, having timed his run into the starting XI to perfection over the past three fixtures, believes everyone benefits from the increased competition. ‘Definitely, and that’s what you want,’ said the 29-year-old. ‘The best teams have all got two or three (players) in each position who are pushing for a place in the starting XI. ‘I think that’s really important for any team in terms of being successful, so it’s good, healthy competition. ‘All the boys are pushing each other all over the pitch to get themselves in that starting XI, and that can only be good for the squad. ‘You’ve got to create that togetherness and that healthy competition with the boys all fighting and pushing in the same direction. ‘I don’t want to get into something where I compare this squad to other squads, because I don’t think that’s fair. But, at the same time, I think the boys can take confidence when you look around and see the lads we have in the squad and the level that they’re playing at. ‘It’s a massive thing for us and it’s definitely something the boys can take belief from.’ Hanley heads into the Euros after an outstanding season with Norwich, his involvement in the summer finals soured slightly by the fact that club-mate Kenny McLean is missing out through injury. ‘In terms of my club football, it has been a really good season, winning the league and getting promoted back to the Premier League,’ he said. ‘It is nice, but we now need to put that to one side and concentrate on international football and the exciting times we have ahead of us. ‘For me, it has been a tough couple of years in terms of injuries and I didn’t play as much as I would have liked to. ‘On a personal note, it is good to have that behind me and being able to play so many games and to show a bit of fitness and consistency. ‘It has given me a massive buzz going into the summer. ‘I am absolutely devastated for Kenny, though, because he deserves to be at the finals. I’m certain the boys will be doing everything they can to do him proud.’