The Scotland squad has been ravaged by “injuries” and withdrawals in the run up to their Nations League ties with Albania and Israel.
The nation’s squad is almost as fractured as it’s support.
With ex-Rangers boss Alex McLeish under early pressure to perform and get big results here, he’ll have to do it with a makeshift squad. He’ll also have to do it with people seemingly desperate for him and Scotland to fail.
But will it be a diehard bluenose who comes to his rescue and answers the country’s call?
Amazing this is John Fleck’s first cap
John Fleck is a name Rangers fans are well familiar with. The one time Murray Park darling made his competitive debut at Ibrox at only 16. He was supposed to be the next big thing for Rangers and Scottish football.
But it didn’t quite progress for him at Rangers the way we hoped it would.
He left in the mire of 2012, something he felt necessary due to a lack of opportunities, and the diehard bluenose has always spoken fondly about his time at the club.
“When I first signed professional terms for Rangers I never imagined every playing anywhere else,” explained John Fleck in 2016. “Playing there for the rest of my career was my dream. That’s 100 per cent.”
“Just running out of the Ibrox tunnel once wearing the Rangers jersey would’ve been enough for me.
“That really was a dream come true. I can’t fully describe the feeling — but it meant so much to me and my family, especially my dad.”
A move to Coventry then brought on a move to Sheffield United, where the now 27 year old has been on fine form in the Championship. The Blades sit 4th, three points off the top in a tight race.
Fleck will however still need to wait to make his long-awaited Scotland bow. He won’t be joining up with the squad until the Israel match.
But given the chance, the hard-working playmaker may be able to dig old Rangers boss McLeish out of a ever-increasing hole.
Could the midfielder end up back at Rangers one day?
