Tuesday 3 October 2017 09:04, UK
Ikechi Anya believes Scotland have "peaked at the right time" as they prepare for their must-win World Cup Qualifiers against Slovakia and Slovenia.
Recent wins over Lithuania and Malta have hauled Gordon Strachan's side back into contention in Group F and six points from their final two games would be enough to secure at least second place in the group and a potential play-off spot.
Scotland face Slovakia at Hampden Park on Thursday night before they take on Slovenia in Ljubljana on October 8, with both games live on Sky Sports Football.
Strachan's side cannot afford to drop points in either game but Derby winger Anya insists that pressure will help to spur the team on in their final two group games.
"There is always pressure in international football but you thrive off it - these are the games that you want to play in," said Anya. "It's an honour to be able to participate in them.
"We've been training well and now we're looking forward to the games."
When asked if momentum played a key role at this stage of the qualifying campaign, Anya added: "It's massive. You want to be the ones going in with full confidence. You don't want to be the ones on the back foot.
"I think we've peaked at the right time and hopefully we can see it through."
Scotland are without a number of first-team regulars for the Slovakia game, with Matt Ritchie, Stuart Armstrong and captain Scott Brown all ruled out through injury.
However, Anya believes Strachan has enough strength in depth to cope with the loss of those players.
"Everyone that has come here before knows their job," he said. "If players are pulled out for whatever reasons, for whatever injuries, they know that if they need to step into that role then they can do it.
"I think that is why the gaffer keeps a consistent squad, even like myself - the ones who are not playing so much with their team, he knows that when they come here they know what is expected of them."
