Aston Villa striker Ross McCormack has been omitted from the Scotland squad to face Malta on Sunday.
Ross McCormack of Aston Villa
Scotland assistant manager mark McGhee insists that Aston Villa striker Ross McCormack will get a chance for his country, but not because of his £12 million price-tag, as reported by the Daily Record.
Eyebrows were raised after his omission from the Scotland squad for the Malta clash, even with Leigh Griffiths missing due to injury, and McGhee explained how the decision was more tactical than anything else:
Scotland assistant manager Mark McGhee
“It’s about the manager picking a balanced team that is going to play the best they can and trying to understand where the opposition can be exploited.”
The 30-year-old former Fulham striker has 13 international caps to his name, and has managed to score two goals in those appearances.
When Griffiths pulled out, however, it was Hearts striker Tony Watt who got the call-up as the Celtic man’s replacement.
McGhee highlighted Oliver Burke as an example of how a player’s value in the market will not influence their selection in the side, and insisted that no one is guaranteed a place in the squad, as quoted by the Daily Record:
Ross McCormack celebrates scoring a goal for Villa
“It’s not about that. Oliver may or may not play and he is the most expensive player in the squad.”
McGhee went on to outline how the World Cup qualifying campaign is a long and arduous one, and Scotland will need to use a large group of players to make the best of their chances:
“I would say between now and the end of this campaign, which is 10 games, we will probably turn over all 45 players. There is no bigger fan of Ross than me. From day one I have promoted Ross from when I first saw him at Motherwell.”
Aston Villa’s Ross McCormack in action
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