Gordon Strachan tells Kris Boyd to prove he can still cut it at international level

Kris Boyd has vowed to prove his worth at international level after being recalled to the Scotland squad after a three year wait.

Gordon Strachan last night challenged the Kilmarnock player to prove he can still cut it at international level and Kris is looking forward to the challenge.

“Hopefully I can get involved against Norway and show what I am still capable of at the highest level,” he said.

“I never gave up hope of playing for my country again and I am grateful to Gordon Strachan for giving me that chance.

“I have always felt I can make a contribution at international level and knew that, if I kept working hard, my chance would come again.”

Strachan won’t start the drafted-in Kilmarnock striker tonight but may give him an opportunity to win his 19th cap at some stage – three years after his last game for his country.

But whatever happens he wants Boyd to show he is capable of adapting to the way Strachan wants Scotland to play and if he doesn’t his recall is likely to be short-lived.

Strachan, though, believes the 30-year-old can grab his chance after three years in the wilderness in Turkey and the USA.

“I think Kris is coming back strong. He has grown in the last two or three years by getting out of Scotland and seeing what’s happening elsewhere in the world. So I think that has been good for him,” he said.

“But when you come to this squad you have to adapt your game to us. That’s what I’ve been saying to everybody who joins us.

“We don’t have a Bale, Ronaldo or Messi that you adapt your team for them.

“Here you need to adapt to how we play and I’ll maybe try another system in this game.

“Can you adapt to how we’re playing and can you add to this squad, being a positive influence in everything you do? If you agree to that, then fine.”

Steven Naismith will start up front and Boyd believes he can reignite a partnership with the Everton striker that was formed at Rugby Park and continued at Rangers.

“Maybe I’m not going to be doing the running that Naisy does but I can score the goals to make it a good partnership.

“I’ve scored seven goals for Scotland and I definitely think I can score more. If I didn’t think that I would have told Gordon I wasn’t coming,” he added.

“The confidence has never left me. If I’m given chances I know I’ll score more than I will miss.

“It’s about getting into positions to score. I wasn’t fit enough before to get into those positions and to represent my country but I am now.

“I look forward to getting two minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes – if I get on at all I will enjoy it.

“But I know I’ve a long way to go before I can be classed as an international player again.”