Scotland have entered what Sir Alex Ferguson might call “squeaky bum time” as they attempt to qualify for World Cup 2018 in Russia. Gordon Strachan’s men need victories over Slovakia and Slovenia over the course of the next week to give themselves a shot of finishing second in Group F and qualifying for the playoffs.
It was therefore something of a hammer blow for Strachan when Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers revealed last week that Celtic stars Scott Brown and Stuart Armstrong would miss the vital matches.
The pair would have been right at the heart of Strachan’s gameplan, yet now the manager is left to come up with an alternative for two fixtures that are perhaps the country’s most important since they faced Italy at Hampden in Euro 2008 qualifying a decade ago.
If the former Celtic boss is concerned, he is not showing it.
“We're OK there,” Strachan, also without Newcastle’s Matt Ritchie, coolly said on Monday.
Given the performance of central midfielders Callum McGregor and John McGinn during Celtic’s 2-2 draw with Hibs last weekend, in which both scored doubles for their respective sides, he is not short of players in form – but he cannot call upon a replacement with any great international experience.
McGinn might have been regularly involved in the setup, but McGregor’s absence from the squad until now is one of the biggest questions Strachan could be posed.
Neither, however, provides the imposing presence and immediate leadership of Brown, who acts as enforcer in a side that is otherwise short of defensive leaders. More than anything else, that is what Scotland will miss when they host Slovakia at Hampden on Thursday then go to Slovenia on Sunday for what they hope is a must-win game.
Strachan, in characteristically conservative style, may offer the holding role to veteran Darren Fletcher, with the Stoke player one of the few players in the squad who still has experience of do-or-die international football at 33.
Hibs man McGinn is likely to fulfil the other vacancy due to the greater defensive presence he brings than either Callum McGregor or Barry Bannan. With bundles of energy and a working knowledge of the squad, he is the man best equipped to retain the balance of the side, even if he is not as renowned or experienced as his rivals.
Despite only a handful of international minutes under his belt, it is a situation that the 22-year-old is comfortable with.
“Do I feel ready to start? Absolutely. Every time I've come away with Scotland I've learned and improved. At club level I'm playing some of the best football I've ever played,” he said after his fine display at Celtic Park.
When Charlie Adam complained recently about English clubs failing to look to Scotland for talented players, McGinn was probably one of those he had in mind. Nottingham Forest considered a summer move and their hesitancy may cost them
“Everything about his game was what you want from a modern midfield player. I said he was worth £5 million a couple of weeks ago - I think he's worth a lot more than that now,” raved manager Neil Lennon after his midfielder’s double salvo at the weekend. “I thought he was absolutely perfect [against Celtic]. He drove the game, broke the play up, scored two magnificent goals and nearly created another from a corner.”
It was a performance that Strachan would dearly love him to replicate at the national stadium.
What the former St Mirren youngster has not done, however, is prove himself at a higher level than the Scottish Premiership.
Thursday’s match offers the grandest stage for the Glasgow-born player to come of age, yet one his manager cannot afford for him to fail on. It is the type of occasion that has the potential to make or break his career – as well as Scotland’s World Cup qualification hopes.
