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Scotland CAN salvage Nations League campaign with second spot as Lawrence Shankland love in laid bare
John Carver believes Scotland could still salvage second place from their Nations League group.
A goalless draw with Portugal last time out stopped a depressing run of defeats as Steve Clarke's men went toe-to-toe with Ronaldo and Co to claim their first point of the campaign after being promoted to the top tier of the competition. Croatia visit Hampden on Friday before a trip to Poland next week, and while the Scots needs two wins and snookers, Carver isn't ruling out the possibility of Scotland finishing as runners up.
"I think we're in a position where we've got two games to go, and it's still all to play for, which is a good thing, and I think we can be encouraged by the performances," he said. "We should be sitting here with more points, that's a fact, but we should be sitting here with more points, so I think there's a confidence within the group of saying, right, we've got two games to go, it's all to play for.
"I think there's an outside chance if results went our way - for example, we won both games - we might have a chance of finishing second. What we've done over the years is, we've worked hard to get ourselves into this position, which is fantastic, and we don't want to disappoint by coming out of that top group, because you only benefit.
"I keep saying this, you benefit well against the best teams, the best players, and our young players will develop. We've got quite a few young players who've come through from the under-21s, and they're gaining massive experience for the future.
"In fairness, we've not said anything to the players about where we finish, because I think it's more important about preparing for the game, and making sure that the performance is right, and we set ourselves up the right way. We have to rely on what happens elsewhere, but I think the most important thing is, we focus on what we're trying to do, make sure we're prepared in the best way possible, make sure we try and get that, in that first game, get that three points, that we are desperate to get.
"We could finish fourth. Could finish fourth! But are you looking at it as a group of players, and staff, and saying that, despite the disappointment of the summer, and the tough run that the team have been on, can end the year on a high, two victories, and say that would be a positive note for the end of the year? Absolutely.
"Normally around about this time of year, I'm sure our form has been quite good, in the past, so there's no reason why not. I think what's important, we get something out of the first game, and then see where the second game takes us, but we're confident, we're in a good space at the moment, and like I say, we've got some of our Premier League players back in, which is important."
Che Adams' withdrawal through injury could see Lawrence Shankland partner Lyndon Dykes in attack, despite a lack of goals for Hearts this season. Shankland has netted just once this season after last term saw him bag 31 in total. But Carver insists the Tynecastle skipper has been feeling the love from everyone on the international scene and that getting out of Gorgie for a bit to freshen things up could see him back on the goal trail.
"Everybody, everybody, because we know what he's going through," Carver replied when asked who had given Shankland a big hug at training. "I've watched all the games, I've watched the game against Omonia, because it was my ex-team, and he had a couple of chances, and listen, when you're a good player and you're a goal scorer, eventually that barren spell happens, and he's around good people who help him, and sometimes it's a bit of a relief coming away from a poor spot, because you're in a different environment.
"We all know what he's about. He's a goal scorer, he gets between the posts, he plays inside the 18-yard box, and if he has to play for us, or start, or come on, that's what we want him to do, and we'll encourage him to do that, and the good thing is, he's actually getting into those positions, to actually try and score goals. It's just not coming off of him now, where it did last season and the season before that, so everybody's in full support of Lawrence. We love him to bits, and the players around him understand it.
"You've got Dyksey in there, you've got young Tommy Conway, who's just started his career, and everybody's been supportive. They actually sit next to each other in the dressing room, before training, which is good, and the spirit's good. I sat with Lawrence this morning, and had a good chat with him, and he'll be okay."
