STEVE Clarke is convinced Che Adams is in peak form heading into the Qatar 2022 double header against Moldova and Denmark – after watching the Scotland forward score a tap in.

Adams suffered a muscle strain in the national team’s thrilling 3-2 win over Israel at Hampden last month that ruled him out of the Group F match against the Faroe Islands in Torshavn.

However, the 25-year-old, who has netted twice in 11 appearances for his adopted homeland, has scored in back-to-back games against Chelsea and Watford since returning from the injury.

Clarke was at Stamford Bridge to see the Southampton striker in action against his former club in a Carabao Cup game and was delighted to see him open his account for the 2021/22 campaign from close range.

He will be without Lyndon Dykes, who has scored in Scotland’s last four matches, for the meeting with Moldova in Chisinau on Friday week, due to the Queens Park Rangers player being suspended.

But he is confident Adams will be able to provide a cutting edge in the final third in the Zimbru Stadium and help his country clinch second spot and a play-off place.

“He’s not bad Che!” said Clarke. “I actually went to Stamford Bridge to watch him live against Chelsea and he was excellent.

“He hadn’t had much football so he was breathing a little bit after about 70 minutes but he got his goal that night - a classic striker’s goal from one yard out which I love to see.

“When a striker is scoring from one yard out it means he’s in the killing zone. Then he followed up by curling on into the top corner at the weekend.”

He continued: “Like most strikers, Che is a little bit streaky. When he goes on a run of games he’ll get goals in consecutive games and then have a little dry spell. But hopefully we’ve got him in the middle of a goal run.

“He’s played a lot for us. I think he’s got two goals, but he’s always done well. I like Che as a player and I like what he brings to the team.

“Him and Lyndon work well together. They won’t be together this time, but if Che is on the pitch then I have no doubts he can do a really good job for us.”