SCOTLAND manager Gordon Strachan can sense his players are relishing their date with destiny next month.
Strachan’s side go into their final two World Cup qualifiers knowing that victory over both Slovakia and Slovenia would guarantee second spot in Group F and a potential play-off.
There was a stage when even the Hampden visit of Slovakia on October 5 risked being a meaningless encounter for the Scots after they took four points from their opening four matches.
But 10 points in their subsequent four games ensure Scotland go into the double header with belief.
Strachan has picked a familiar squad, with uncapped Leeds defender Liam Cooper the only player not to have been included for the recent games against Lithuania and Malta.
“This squad and these players have shown that they can deal with big games,” he said. “And that’s why they have been picked again.
“I’m looking forward to catching up with them, it’s always good to catch up with good players who are feeling good about themselves. It’s a privilege to work with these guys.”
The Scotland manager went on: “If we didn’t have belief in each other we wouldn’t be at the stage where we could talk positively understanding that our destiny is in our own hands.
“If there were any people who didn’t believe in what we were doing or didn’t trust us then we wouldn’t be here. But we are here and we are all relishing it.
“I spoke to one or two lads over the past few weeks and they are really looking forward to this. They think this is huge and they all want to be involved.
“Between them and the five million people who are supporting us – and I know they are supporting us because I bump into them every day no matter where I am in the world – we are looking forward to a great occasion.
“We know it could be an occasion that we get disappointed, but we are not thinking that way.
“We believe destiny is in our own hands for these two games and, the way the players have been performing, we relish the challenge.”
Cooper is in for Russell Martin, who has not featured for Norwich since a 4-0 defeat by Millwall on August 26.
The 26-year-old will provide competition and cover for Charlie Mulgrew and Christophe Berra after helping Leeds to the top of the Sky Bet Championship. And he could be called into action given the other centre-back in the squad, Grant Hanley, has only played four minutes of football for Norwich since replacing the injured Mulgrew during the 2-0 win over Malta on September 4.
On Cooper, who represented Scotland at youth level, Strachan said: “He’s playing well. He’s playing in a winning side and he is a big influence on the side, he is the captain now. That’s big progress for Leeds, which is good, and himself.
“I probably should have had him in the last squad to be honest, but I made sure I didn’t make the same mistake again.
“Because of his performances, he is back in the squad. He has been highly rated by my scouting staff and myself over the past couple of months.”
Another Norwich player, Steven Naismith, drops out because of a lack of match action, while Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney misses out with a knee injury.
James Morrison retains his place after his late call-up earlier this month, while his West Brom team-mate Darren Fletcher and Sheffield Wednesday striker Steven Fletcher are both included after withdrawing through injury last time.
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