‘Miller time for Scotland – but McGregor return the dream’

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If all eyes were not already on Scotland’s first World Cup qualifier against Denmark on 5 September, they certainly are now.

While Steve Clarke would have been running scenarios in his head after Friday’s defeat by Iceland, Monday night’s win over in Liechtenstein presented no such problems.

Well, besides his team and formation. Big decisions, in truth.

Will the Scotland head coach stick with the back four he played in Vaduz or shift to his trusty back three/five?

In midfield, who does he start after 18-year-old Lennon Miller impressed on his full debut?

And after hat-trick hero Che Adams and George Hirst linked up for the latter’s first international goal, will Clarke commit to two up top?

Plenty positions to ponder over the holidays for Clarke. And it’s crucial he gets them right in Copenhagen.

When possible, Clarke always opts for Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson down the left. They are his tried and tested and they have served him well.

There has been a little discourse around whether that is still what we should be going with, but I don’t see why not.

I think they’re still two of the best left-sided partnerships that we’ve got and it works really well.

Tierney as left-sided centre-back and Robertson at left wing-back offers such pace, which also brings quality going forward and the end product of ball in the box.

I think that’s our strength. They have done it fantastically in the past couple of years, which is why I think going away from home, in Copenhagen, I see Clarke going with the five.

While we have good balance on the left, it is the right that is more up for grabs. There are cases to be made for many, and it is one for the head coach to mull over.

On his first Scotland start, I think Miller has done himself absolutely millions of favours with his performance.

He is very, very calm – quite chilled actually. That’s due to his family, his dad [former Scotland striker Lee] keeping him grounded!

His composure and quality is top notch and he expresses himself in the game.

It is like he is not bothered by being on the big stage. His attitude is, ‘I’m playing with my mates here’. That’s top mentality.

Do I think he will start in Denmark? I don’t. But will he be one of the ones that’s in Clarke’s mind to automatically come on if you’re looking for a goal or a forward pass? I’d say so.

There are so many possibilities, though.

The pairing of Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay is one that’s got to flourish. You know what you’re getting with John McGinn. Clarke likes Kenny McLean because of his experience. Ryan Christie is favoured as a 10, too, so there are plenty of legs in there.

But the perfect scenario is to get Callum McGregor back.

He is the one that ticks all the boxes. He can sit, he can go forward. I know he is retired but that is what Scotland are looking for.

Alhough two strikers are not Clarke’s usual call, he has gone with the Che Adams-Lyndon Dykes partnership before.

I was on punditry duties with the big man while we watched Adams and Hirst strike up a partnership and I reckon he will be phoning Clarke now saying he can play in the two.

I think the head coach likes Dykes’ running power. He’s a great worker off the ball, but also holds it well and causes problems in the box.

Adams will be flying high while Hirst has just opened his Scotland account.

There is, finally, great competition up there now for us. We’ve not had three goal-scoring strikers for the national team for a long, long time.

Can Clarke use all three, though? I don’t think he will.

If he goes defensively, I don’t see him playing two strikers.

I see him playing that box in the middle of the park and I think it gives us a little bit better structure going away from home.

Getting it right in Copenhagen is paramount.

If Scotland can get a point away to Denmark and then beat them at home – while beating everybody else – that’ll do it. Easier said, mind you.

But the first game is the big one.

You don’t want to go away on matchday one and lose, because it puts the Danes on the front foot early doors with belief. Scotland then start to overthink everything, so the opener will be hugely important for us.

Clarke just has to do what he does.

He has had a fantastic career as a manager. I actually look at him and the style he plays – I try and steal stuff from him.

He has got a lot of experience, doesn’t differ too much from what he usually does and it has served him very well so far.

Former Scotland captain Scott Brown was speaking to BBC Scotland’s Amy Canavan.

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