Gordon Strachan says Scotland are ready to take on Poland
Scotland manager Gordon Strachan insists injury-hit Scotland are not running scared of table-topping Poland in their Group D Euro qualifier.
The national boss jetted into Warsaw yesterday without key defender Grant Hanleyand with serious concern over the fitness of little talisman Ikechi Anya.
While Hanley has been sent back to Blackburn for treatment Anya travelled with the squad but did not train at the National Stadium as Strachan went through his final preparations ahead of tonight’s showdown.
Hanley will likely be swapped with Brighton stopper Gordon Greer – who was paired up with Russell Martin here back in March when Scotland notched a 1-0 friendly win, but even though there are no obvious replacements for left winger Anya, Strachan remained in seriously bullish mood yesterday on the back of Saturday’s 1-0 triumph over Georgia.
“It would be great if Anya makes it but even if he doesn’t we’re not scared of the situation. We have other people who are ready to go,” said Strachan.
“Hanley took a knock to his knee in the Georgia game and is away home.
“Ikechi also had an injury and won’t train. We’ll have a look at him – he has tightness in his calf.
“We’d prefer to have both players but we’ll be all right. On Sunday night I didn’t go into any real panic about it.”
A confident Strachan insists Scotland are not only looking to take home a point, they’re determined to beat the Poles.
“Maybe during the game I might settle for a point but at this moment let’s go for all three.”