NORMALLY when a team picks itself, it is because a manager has a group of players he can rely on, rather than only having 11 or so to pick from.

The news that Kieran Tierney, one of the side’s key men, had pulled out of the Scotland squad yesterday to make it 12 call-offs provoked howls of despair from the Tartan Army, leading thousands of Da’s up and down the country to comfort themselves by dusting off their ‘shall I get my boots looked out?’ joke.

But from the scorched remnants of Alex McLeish’s original picks for tonight’s game against Albania, hope springs. Stay with me here.

Believe it or not, there is still a core of more than decent Scotland players to choose from, and if deployed correctly, I see no reason why we can’t come away with a result.

The goalkeeping position takes care of itself. Allan McGregor will take the gloves, and you have a feeling that the Rangers keeper will have to be at his inspirational best.

With the withdrawal of Tierney, the temptation for McLeish may be to revert to a back three. I hope he doesn’t. The personnel available screams to me now to go 4-2-3-1, albeit with a few square pegs in round holes.

That means Cardiff City’s Callum Paterson at right-back despite not playing there for a good while, and his club manager Neil Warnock stating that he can’t defend. Needs must.

A centre-pairing of David Bates and Scott McKenna may not inspire confidence in terms of their inexperience, but the contrasting styles of ‘the ginger Ramos’, who has honed an ability to play out since joining Hamburg, and the no-nonsense style of the physically imposing McKenna may just be a decent formula.

At left-back, it is Andy Robertson all day long.

In front of them, you would have the newly-crowned king of the ‘Broony’ role, Callum McGregor, who has shown for Celtic he has the ability to dictate play on the ball, while also having dig and defensive diligence. Beside him, I would gamble on Scott McTominay over Stuart Armstrong for his physicality and defensive attributes. He hasn’t played a lot of late, but I would have the Manchester United youngster in to free up McGregor to contribute the other way.

The three in front of those are, I believe, a genuinely exciting part of this Scotland side.

James Forrest has been outstanding for Celtic, and it is one of life’s great mysteries why he has yet to score in 24 appearances for the national side. He is due a really big performance for his country, and there would be no more opportune time to provide it.

I’m a great believer in going with players that are in form, if you have any, and mercifully we do in the shape of Ryan Christie. The former Inverness man has really made his mark at Celtic lately, and he deserves a chance to transfer that form to the international stage.

Beside him, is the tantalising prospect of Ryan Fraser finally getting a chance to shine in his natural position. He has been causing havoc in the English Premier League for Bournemouth playing off the left, so it is absolutely essential he is deployed there for Scotland. If you play him where he is effective, he will produce for you.

He has the most assists so far this season in the EPL with six, eclipsing the likes of Eden Hazard, and has also chipped in with four goals.

Up front, I would have liked to have tried out Paterson, but with him filling in at right-back, I would go with Matt Phillips. He has the best mix of experience, physical presence and pace to perform the role of the men available.

It may not be perfect, but it’s not quite the disaster zone it is being perceived to be either. Against Albania and Israel, we can only hope it is good enough