Strachan puts faith in players

Gordon Strachan will send out a team he can trust in tonight's 2014 World Cup qualifier against Wales at Hampden.

The former Southampton, Celtic and Middlesbrough manager got his tenure as national team boss off to an encouraging start with a 1-0 win over Estonia in a friendly at Pittodrie last month but the visit of the Welsh, who won 2-1 when the two countries met at Cardiff in October, probably represents the Scots' last chance of reaching Rio, if that is not already a forlorn hope.

"We are going to put trust in 11 players," Strachan said. "I could trust 26, that's for sure, but unfortunately I can only pick 11 and that has been hard."

He added: "I have watched them all week and I have enjoyed their enthusiasm. It was good to stand back and watch them on Wednesday.

"If you can't play football any more there is nothing better than watching good players play.

"They know which way we want to play, we know which way we want to attack and defend, there are no grey areas.

"We expect the players we pick to do what they are good at, nothing more and nothing less, within a system that we have been practising all week.

"The hard bit is picking 11 but it is good to know that there are others that you can trust."

The former Scotland, Aberdeen and Manchester United midfielder is relishing the prospect of a lively night at Hampden.

"I am looking forward to it," he said. "It is bring it on time now."