MX23RW : Friday, May 10 02:47:09| >> :600:142572:142572:

Scotland manager Alex McLeish keeping an eye on Che Adams

Scotland manager Alex McLeish keeping an eye on Che Adams
© Reuters
Adams has scored 19 goals this season.

Scotland boss Alex McLeish has said Birmingham forward Che Adams is on his radar as he prepares for the start of the 2020 European Championship qualifiers.

The 22-year-old, born in Leicester, was capped by England at under-20 level four years ago but qualifies for Scotland through the grandparent rule.

Adams has caught the eye this season after scoring 19 goals for the Blues in the English Championship.

McLeish, whose side begin their qualifying campaign with an away double-header against Kazakhstan and San Marino in March, said: "We have looked at Che. We are a small nation, we won't leave any stone unturned and Che has been in good form.

"At the moment he wants to keep himself playing at club level, he's had a good season, we have charted his progress, so we will keep that one open.

"We will leave it up to him just now and we will keep monitoring the situation. It was amicable discussions with him and his representative.

"I never spoke to Che personally but we have noticed his form and we think we can enhance his career and it would be up to him now."

In a group that also contains Belgium, Russia and Cyprus, McLeish accepts the Scots have to hit the ground running in the away double-header.

The former Scotland defender said: "It is competition time. We have to get the competition heads on.

"We will put down some pointers for the players in terms of how we go about the campaign.

"We need a strategy and obviously there will be tactics from game to game."

Amid controversy surrounding the standards of officials in Scotland, with reports claiming that the Scottish Football Association is to consider introducing foreign referees to the Premiership, McLeish gave his backing to the whistlers.

He said: "It is the scrutiny, we have social media, there is no hiding place. I feel for the referees, I was always sympathetic even in my day.

"I wasn't trying to get decisions, it was more accepting that we had a job to do and they had a job to do.

"The scrutiny now is absolutely intense. Give these guys a break, get behind them. We have to try to help the referees in our country as much as possible.

"These guys are brought up here, let's encourage them and help them to be better. I say back our boys, that's my stance on it."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'cb1cbd8f-b104-412e-88e8-ed2e929a3080');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Scotland manager Alex McLeish keeping an eye on Che Adams'});

ID:350914: cacheID:350914:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4871:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers gives orders on December 13, 2018
Read Next:
5 things we learned from the Scottish Premiership this weekend
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal36265588286083
2Manchester CityMan City35257387335482
3Liverpool36239481384378
4Aston Villa36207973532067
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs351861169581160
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle351751378562256
7Chelsea351591170591154
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd35166135255-354
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham361310135670-1449
10Bournemouth36139145263-1148
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton351211125357-447
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves36137164960-1146
13Fulham36128165155-444
14Crystal Palace361110154957-843
15Everton36129153849-1137
16Brentford3699185260-836
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3689194563-1829
18Luton TownLuton3668224978-2926
19Burnley3659223974-3524
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd36372635100-6516


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!