Scotland boss Craig Levein has called on 'maverick' forward James McFadden to prove his worth.
Scotland boss wants playmaker to raise his game
Scotland boss Craig Levein has called on 'maverick' forward James McFadden to prove his worth.
Despite being able to boast considerable technical ability, Birmingham ace McFadden is yet to establish himself as a regular starter at international level.
He was left on the bench for more than an hour of Scotland's Euro 2012 qualifying opener against Lithuania on Friday, as Levein's men were held 1-1.
There have now been strong calls for him to be thrown into action when Liechtenstein arrive at Hampden Park on Tuesday.
Levein, though, has warned that McFadden needs to offer more to the team than glimpses of occasional brilliance if he is to become a mainstay in the side.
Talented
"The best teams in the world have extremely talented players who work their backsides off," he said in the
Daily Record.
"The questions everyone ask are: 'Is McFadden a maverick? Where do we play him? On the left or right, or up front through the middle as a striker?'
"He has all the talent in the world but getting him into this way of thinking - that everybody has responsibility - is a challenge.
"There is every chance he will play against Liechtenstein. But the question James needs to ask is will he play against Spain?
"He can go some way towards answering that with what he does in this game."
Gamble
Levein insists he is not looking for McFadden to drastically alter his game, as he is a potential match-winner on his day, he just feels the 27-year-old needs to up his work rate.
"We need to play with passion and aggression. But everyone has to buy into it," he added.
"Is it gamble to play James? I think previous managers have wondered what to do with him.
"I do not mind players being careless in possession. What concerns me is the thought: 'If I lose it, can I get it back again?'
"This is not me having a go at James. He is unquestionably our most talented player so why has he not played 90 minutes in every game for his country or club?"
