Jordan Rhodes must be considered for Euro qualifiers, says Kevin Gallacher

SCOTLAND should seriously consider recalling Jordan Rhodes for the Euro qualifier against Poland on Thursday week.

The message comes from Kevin Gallacher, who argues the striker’s return to scoring form with Blackburn Rovers makes him a potential wild card.

Rovers rejected a £12m offer from Middlesbrough for the 25-year-old in the summer, and have seen their stance rewarded recently with Rhodes hitting four goals in four games.

And as far as Gallacher whose double against Austria helped Scotland qualify for the 1998 World Cup is concerned, that should give him a realistic shot at facing Robert Lewandowski and Co.

Rhodes last featured against Gibraltar at the end of last season, and has struggled to find favour under Strachan.

“Jordan is still working on improving aspects of his game, but he is certainly a finisher,” said Gallacher, who was part of Blackburn’s Premier League-winning side in 1995.

“He has had a fair bit to deal with in the last couple months, what with the transfer speculation and his ankle injury.

“It is to his credit that he has put the other stuff to one side and is back doing what he does best scoring goals.

“We are going to need them against Poland. If we don’t win, the country’s aspirations of reaching the Finals in France are pretty much over.

“Of course, there are others ahead of him in the queue.

“Leigh Griffiths has been in great form for Celtic and he will certainly have his supporters, in the management team probably, as well as the Tartan Army.

“And while Steven Fletcher might not be scoring goals for his club, you have to remember Sunderland are struggling and Gordon Strachan rates him the best we have at leading the line.

“All the same, though, I can certainly see the potential value in having Jordan on the subs bench.

Kevin Gallacher (SNS Group)

“I have always said he is a guy who needs three chances to score you one goal, but that if you give him those three chances he will DEFINITELY get you one.

“He has done that at every level he has played at for club and country.

“If we were struggling to break through against Poland, and time was running out, then he would be an option.”

Gallacher is optimistic Scotland can qualify for the Euro 2016 and sees parallels with the successful World Cup campaign he was a part of.

“People often speak about the times when we have fallen just short,” he said.

“The truth is, though, there have also been occasions when we have gone into a game needing a result and delivered.

“The match against Austria in 1997 was exactly like that. We had to win and did win.

“I am confident with the Hampden crowd behind us, the current team can get the victory over Poland they need.

“And the great thing about that is it would then guarantee the Poles would be desperate to beat the Republic of Ireland in the last game in Warsaw.

“So while losing to Georgia in Tbilisi was a big setback, I am still sure it can work out in the end.”Gordon Smith: Strachan should walk away if Scotland fail to make Euro 2016 – click here to read more