45-cap Scotland man delivers 'don't change' message to Steve Clarke amid 'lucky' Scott McTominay verdict

Currently placed second in Group C behind leaders Denmark only on goal difference, the national team secured a playoff spot with back-to-back wins over Greece and Belarus last month, but will set up a straight shootout between themselves and Brian Riemer’s side at Hampden Park next Tuesday for automatic qualification if they can secure at least a draw against Greece in Piraeus on Saturday.

Aiming to end an agonising 28-year wait to qualify for next summer’s tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada this month, Ferguson believes their ‘fantastic’ manager has all the tools he needs to ensure Scotland are in the draw for the World Cup in December.

“What an opportunity they've got to qualify,” said Ferguson. “He's done a fantastic job, Steve Clarke. I know some people give him a bit of criticism at times, and I don't know what they expect. He's got us to two major tournaments. I said at the start of the campaign, it was all about the first game going to Denmark. It was a brilliant point because Denmark are a very good team.

“They've got a lot of very good players, a lot of dangerous players. So we got the campaign off to a good start - that was important. That breeds a bit of confidence into the players and now we're sitting in a healthy position. I'm confident that Scotland will get to the World Cup.

“In the mindset of this group of Scotland players, the manager and the coaching staff, they want to do it right. They want to get there without a playoff game. But whatever way they get there, who cares as long as Scotland get to the World Cup. But I'm pretty confident with the last two games coming up that Scotland can do it [qualify automatically].”

Ferguson, who spent three months as interim manager of Rangers last term, feels Scotland’s midfield options are some of the best in world football at the moment, but believes the national team’s real strength comes from the way their 62-year-old head coach sets the team up - and has insisted he should stick with what has made him one of the country’s most successful bosses.

“The strength, depth and quality that we have got in the middle of the pitch is right up there with the best,” Ferguson told Gambling.com. “Look at [Scott] McTominay for instance - [he was] exceptional last year for Napoli. Billy Gilmour wasn't playing as much [for Napoli], but he broke into the team. He's a fantastic footballer. John McGinn, the Aston Villa captain, he's been unbelievable for Scotland.

“My nephew Lewis [Ferguson], who's been over in Serie A and ripped it up as well. So I look at that midfield and there's real competition. The manager’s always get decisions to make, because one or two always have to get left out, but that's the quality we've got. We're lucky to have these players. The players that I mentioned there could play at the top level. Well, they are already playing at the top level, but they wouldn't look out of place in any top team.

“They know what they're good at. Why change when it has been pretty successful? I sometimes think if you open up a bit, that wouldn't suit us. Defensively we’re really strong, then we can hit teams on the counter-attack, and from set-pieces we always look a real danger. So I can totally understand why Steve Clarke hasn’t changed much. He has changed in terms of him liking three at the back to start with, and he’s gone with a four at the back [more recently]. That's been a slight change, but I don't think you'll see Scotland change much, because overall, I think it's been a really successful period under Steve Clarke.”

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