He can play in three different positions and he has become a huge player for us.
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“For every good player, that’s what you are after”.
Asked if over-enthusiasm could be a factor against Poland given the importance of the game, Strachan, who drafted in Aberdeen’s Graeme Shinnie and Kevin McDonald of Wolves, said: “You have to temper that”.
Poland – in second place to Germany in Group D, the toughest of the qualifying groups – have a goal difference of plus-15 and their attack is led by Robert Lewandowski, who scored five goals in nine minutesfor Bayern Munich against Wolfsburg last week and a hat-trick in their win over Dinamo Zagreb last night.
Charlie Mulgrew is also included despite being labelled a “major doubt” by his club manager, Ronny Deila.
“People point out that they have Lewandowski and that’s true but they have not beaten us yet”, the Scotland boss said.
“But he has played so well it would be great to have a look at him”.
Graham Shinnie is one of two uncapped players named by Gordon Strachan in the Scotland squad for next month’s last two Euro 2016 qualifiers against Poland and Gibraltar.
The 58-year-old has improved the national side since succeeding Craig Levein at the start of 2013 and many members of the Tartan Army would like to see him stay on regardless of whether they progress to France next summer. “He is getting better and better as he gets older although he is not an old man. I think he deserves to be here”.
“I texted him and I told him: ‘Life is like that.’ But he is one of the people that decides and determines where he goes in his career”. There will be a time when yes, let’s talk about me, because that’s only right. I just live for the day, or the next game coming up or whatever.
If he continues at his current rate, Lewandowski could end up with 48 Bundesliga goals, and therefore challenge Ronaldo for this season’s European Golden Boot.
“We will speak about it once it (campaign) is out of the way”.
“We are still in there”, said Strachan.
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Wolves midfielder Kevin McDonald has been handed a surprise call-up, having been part of the squad for the opening fixture in Group D against the Germans in Dortmund. “The games are far more important”. Hopefully it’s got a few months left to go. “Money can’t buy that”.
