SCOTLAND’S joint record goalscorer Sir Kenny Dalglish believes Steve Clarke has boosted the national team’s chances of reaching the Euro 2020 knockout rounds by persuading Che Adams to play for his adopted homeland.

Clarke named Adams, the Southampton forward who qualifies to represent this country due to a maternal grandparent who hails from Edinburgh, in his squad for the Qatar 2022 qualifiers back in March.

The 24-year-old made his debut in the Group F opener against Austria at Hampden when he came off the bench in the second-half and then started in the games against Israel away and the Faroes Islands at home.

Sir Kenny was, like so many members of the Tartan Army, impressed by how effortlessly the powerfully built and pacey forward, who netted in the 4-0 triumph over the Faroes, made the step up to international football in the triple header.

Clarke has selected Lyndon Dykes of Queens Park Rangers, Ryan Fraser of Newcastle United and Kevin Nisbet of Hibernian in his 26 man squad for the finals – but Adams looks set to start up front if fit. 

Dalglish, who scored against the Netherlands in the 1978 World Cup in Argentina and New Zealand in the 1982 World Cup in Spain and netted 30 times in total for his country between 1971 and 1986, predicted the Leicester-born player’s involvement at Euro 2020 will be crucial. 

“I think it’s important to get someone who can score goals,” he said. “Getting Che Adams into the squad is a brilliant bonus for us. The boy worked his socks off in the games he had. He’ll enjoy it even better when the crowds get back in and get right behind him.

“It’s a difficult position to fill, striker. There aren’t too many about. Not too many are born in Scotland and you can’t manufacture one. We’re grateful for him coming in and I’m sure he’ll be an asset.”