Thursday 23 March 2017 14:58, UK
Ikechi Anya insists confidence is not an issue for Scotland under Gordon Strachan despite their disappointing 1-1 draw with Canada on Wednesday.
Falkirk midfielder Fraser Aird fired the visitors ahead after just 10 minutes in the friendly at Easter Road before Steven Naismith levelled in the 34th minute in what was a warm-up for the must-win World Cup qualifier at Hampden against Slovenia on Sunday, live on Sky Sports 1.
The final whistle was met by boos from those in attendance in the stands against Canada but Anya insists confidence is not a problem ahead of the weekend's crunch fixture, where a win is vital to Scotland's hopes of reaching Russia.
"With Gordon Strachan, I don't think personal confidence is anything to worry about," he told the Scottish FA.
"He gives us lots of confidence as an individual and collective and all of us are full of confidence. If we take our chances [against Canada] maybe we get two or three goals. But confidence is high in the dressing room.
"The Slovenia game are the games you look forward to. You enjoy the pressure. I am confident that we can get the three points and set us up for the game in June against England."
Anya said he will gladly continue in the right-back role for Scotland following his man-of-the-match display against the Canadians, despite the 29-year-old first coming into Strachan's plans in 2013 as a winger.
After playing in the full-back role against England at Wembley in November, the former Watford player retained that position for Wednesday's friendly and was happy enough with his performance.
"I really enjoyed it. Any time the gaffer calls upon me to play there I just try my best," he added. "I improved in that position at Watford because we played wing-backs. I tried to improve my defensive aspects as well.
"It is not all there but little by little I am improving and thought I did okay."
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