Gary Caldwell backs Gordon Strachan to lead Scotland back to finals football

A Scotland fan shows his support for bookies' favourite Gordon Strachan

Gary Caldwell has told Sky Sports News Gordon Strachan is the right man to succeed Craig Levein as Scotland manager.

Strachan is an overwhelming favourite with Sky Bet and his odds shortened further when Alex McLeish, also prominent in the betting, backed his rival for the job.

And Wigan defender Caldwell believes his former Celtic boss has the necessary drive to lead Scotland back to major tournament football after 14 years and counting in the wilderness.

"Gordon Strachan is a passionate man and a very passionate Scot," said Caldwell, who captained his country earlier this year in the absence of Darren Fletcher.

"I had three years with him at Celtic and he achieved fantastic things there. he's been out of management for a while now and I'm sure he's very hungry to get back in.

"It's not an easy job, and with the years that we've not qualified it's getting harder and harder. But, having worked with him before, I'm sure he's a man who'd come with a real passion and commitment to get us back to major finals."

Caldwell was one of several senior players to back Levein before his sacking, and he has admitted the players feel responsible after a run of two points from their four opening World Cup qualifiers.

He said: "When a manager gets sacked you feel like you've let him down. He's a great man, he put his heart and soul into the job and we wanted to do well for him. We just haven't got breaks we needed."

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