Strachan five midfielders ahead of Armstrong in Scotland queue

GORDON STRACHAN has warned Celtic star Stuart Armstrong he will have to get past his formidable five to get in the Scotland side.

The 22-year-old has been outstanding for the Hoops since completing his near £2 million switch from Dundee United in the winter transfer window.

However, while that should be good enough to secure his place in the national squad for the double-header against Northern Ireland and Gibraltar, the Scotland boss warns against expecting too much too soon.

“It has been great to see Stuart, and Gary Mackay-Steven too, playing in front of 60,000 people against teams like Inter Milan. That’s a great education,” he said. “At the same time you have to remember that in September both of them were left out of the Dundee United first team.

“The other thing is we’ve had players playing in our system for two years some of them in terrific form. So you have to be better than them as well as being able to fit into the system.

“To be fair, it is also very hard just now if you’re a central midfielder (Stuart Armstrong’s position).

“Charlie Mulgrew was magnificent against the Republic of Ireland. Scott Brown’s always great. James McArthur’s starring for Crystal Palace. Darren Fletcher’s been terrific, plus you have James Morrison.

“Those five have been first class over the last two years. That’s the standard that you have to come up to. You can’t just be better than somebody for a few weeks and get in.”

Strachan’s mention of Fletcher was significant. He has been delighted to see the way his skipper his been rejuvenated by his move to West Bromwich Albion.

“I saw Darren play the other night against Aston Villa and he was terrific,” he said. “It was a real derby game, a nervous kind of affair, but it didn’t affect him in any way. That was what he needed.

“You get involved get tackling, heading, moaning and groaning, then you’re alive. He understands though, that he’s been out the picture for two years and other people have taken that role.

“There’s no doubt about it, when he stands in the tunnel beside you, we all feel a lot better.”

The friendly against Northern Ireland, at Hampden on March 25, offers the opportunity for experimentation but Strachan counsels he won’t be calling up anybody just for the name check.

“I’ve been a player, there’s nothing worse than coming along and not getting stripped, not getting on the playing surface,” he said.

“It’s a body blow to them. I don’t know how you keep asking people to do that. People are coming away, they don’t get paid, they’re away from their family for 10 games and they just want to play.

“So I have to look and ask if I’m being fair to everyone.”

That could mean Ryan Gauld, Armstrong’s former Tannadice teammate who is now with Sporting Lisbon, missing out.