Wallace gives food for thought

MARK WARBURTON believes Lee Wallace has handed Gordon Strachan a selection poser at left-back for when Andrew Robertson and Kieran Tierney return to fitness and contention for next year’s World Cup qualifiers.

The Rangers captain earned lavish praise from Strachan for his display in defeat at Wembley. However, the self-effacing Wallace claimed he was ‘nowhere near qualified’ to assess his suitability for playing against opposition of England’s level.

While Wallace may wish to underplay his candidature for further recognition beyond a meagre nine caps, his club manager is happy to advance those claims on his behalf.

Warburton is sure Wallace will be in the frame, come the March tie at Hampden against Slovenia, to compete for a starting place with the multi-millionpound rated pair of Robertson and Tierney.

‘Lee is a very modest guy,’ said Warburton, who attended Wembley to support England and Wallace. ‘But I would turn round to him and tell him he’s got to say that, in a positive way, he’s given Gordon a selection problem. He’s shown Gordon that, whenever called upon, he’s ready.

‘He was an attacking threat, got down the left-hand side, giving one-twos and putting balls in the box.

‘Whoever Gordon picks is down to him but Lee has shown he’s more than capable. A World Cup qualifier against the Auld Enemy in front of 85,000 and he handled it brilliantly.

‘Lee went in with a few question marks over him, Tierney and Robertson injured etc.

‘But Lee has been patient. He’s probably forsaken his international career with Rangers going down and back up again, but I thought he stepped in well.’