Thursday 9 October 2014 20:10, UK
Mark McGhee says Steven Fletcher’s return to form at Sunderland means he could start for Scotland against Georgia.
The Sunderland striker scored two goals against Stoke last time out to end a goal drought stretching back to December 2013.
Fletcher did not even make the bench for his side’s home draw with Tottenham in September but now finds himself firmly back in the fold at the Stadium of Light.
McGhee believes the former Hibernian frontman's return to form is perfectly timed as Scotland shape up for their second Euro 2016 qualifier at Ibrox.
Now he (Fletcher) has arrived feeling great about himself. Could that sway minds in terms of selection? Absolutely.
The Scotland assistant manager said that Gordon Strachan will to look to include players who are hitting top form at club level.
"If we'd had a game three weeks ago when Stevie wasn't even in the Sunderland squad, then you imagine that he would have come here with a totally different outlook," said McGhee.
"But now he has arrived feeling great about himself. Could that sway minds in terms of selection? Absolutely.
"Gordon will consider all sorts of criteria when picking his team but how a player is doing at any particular time is vital to that."
Steven Naismith was chosen to lead the line for Scotland against Germany and has been in impressive form for Everton.
McGhee added that Naismith will almost certainly start but he would be happy to see him and Fletcher form a two-pronged attack.
"Naismith has shown a flexibility with the way he has been playing for Everton that makes that an option.
He (Naismith) can play just about anywhere in that forward area and his form is so good it is difficult to ignore him.
"He's been playing up front with Romelu Lukaku just off him, or Lukaku up front with Stevie off him, or even playing out to the side.
"He can play just about anywhere in that forward area and his form is so good it is difficult to ignore him."
With Allan McGregor ruled out with a shoulder injury, David Marshall looks set to continue in goal against Temuri Ketsbaia's Georgians.
Burnley's Matt Gilks was called in to provide back-up but there have been increased calls for Craig Gordon to be handed his cap return after the Celtic stopper produced heroics in the Hoops' Europa League win over Dinamo Zagreb last
week.
But McGhee said: "I would be confident that if we put all four names in a bag and pulled one out we would be okay, because they can all do the job."
Youngsters Stevie May and Ryan Gauld are the only new faces to have booked into the team's Renfrewshire hotel.
And the coaches were keen to stress the Sheffield Wednesday striker and Sporting Lisbon playmaker were not just there to make up the numbers.
"We haven't told them that they are just here so we can have a look at them, so just tuck in behind the rest," said McGhee, who also confirmed the squad was at full strength.
