Scotland manager Gordon Strachan has hinted that the form of Steven Naismith means that he does not have to rush fit-again Steven Fletcher back into the team.
The Sunderland striker has been included in the national squad for the first time since March after recovering from ankle and shoulder injuries to make his domestic return recently.
Strachan is delighted to have the 26-year-old available for the upcoming friendlies against Norway and the United States, but has suggested that he is happy to stick with Everton forward Naismith, who scored in the win over Croatia last month, as his lone frontman if Fletcher is not "back to his best".
"We are delighted to have him back, obviously. Sunderland are delighted to have him back," Strachan told reporters. "Both of us need a good Steven Fletcher, which would add to our squad and definitely add to their squad as well. It's been a hard fight for him to get back but he has done great.
"He can add to what we have been doing already and if he surpasses what the boys have been doing up front in recent games, then that will be terrific. It will take him a wee while to get back to his best. If he's back to his best and he can do better than what we've had up front, then that will be a great bonus.
"If he's not back to his best, we can wait a bit because the other players playing up front now are playing quite well. So it's a not a mad rush, it's not desperate. It's great to have him back and I'm sure it will be a great feeling for him to be back."
Fletcher has scored once in 12 Scotland appearances since debuting in 2008.
Joe Fish
