CHE Adams may be a relative newcomer to the Scotland set-up having only pledged his allegiances to this country earlier this year and made his debut for the national team against Austria back in March.

But at 25 the Southampton striker is still one of the more experienced players in Steve Clarke’s squad.

Billy Gilmour and Nathan Patterson, who he played alongside in Chisinau on Friday evening as Moldova were beaten 2-0 and a place in the Qatar 2022 play-offs secured, are five years his junior.

Lewis Ferguson and David Turnbull, meanwhile, are not much older than the midfielder and wing back.

Adams, who scored his third international goal in the Zimbru Stadium to sew up three vital points for his adopted homeland, has been amazed with the contribution that Gilmour and Patterson have made since first being called up in the summer.

The latter in particular; the Rangers defender opened the scoring in the first-half against Moldova and then set him up for his strike in the second.

He feels both youngers have a huge amount to offer going forward and believes Scotland can approach the second round in March with confidence due to their presence.

“Nathan’s an amazing player and a great guy off the pitch so I’m delighted for him,” he said. “He’s a good young prospect coming through for the nation and hopefully he can continue and keep adding goals as well.

“These guys give us hope for the future. To keep getting club minutes is important, to keep building and growing as a player and learn their craft.

“But that’s what they’re doing. They’re delivering on cold nights in Moldova, so there’s no reason why they can’t do it anywhere else.”

Adams continued: “The gaffer has always touched on the need to believe in ourselves because we’re good players. It’s up to us to show people what we can do and what we’re about. And with the performances that we’ve had lately you can see that everyone does believe that now.

“I think the Euros was a huge thing for us and now we want to succeed and keep going. There’s no reason why we can’t do that. We’re all good players. We just have to have that self-belief and keep pushing.

“There’s no real words I can use to put all we’ve achieved into context. It’s been an amazing journey with a bunch of amazing, hard-working lads. I’ve enjoyed every single minute of it. Hopefully we can just continue making memories.”

Adams played up front by himself against Moldova in a 3-4-2-1 formation that Clarke experimented with in the absence of the suspended Lyndon Dykes – Stuart Armstrong and John McGinn were fielded in advanced midfield roles behind him - and acquitted himself well.

However, he is expecting Dykes, who became the first man in 52 years to score in four consecutive Scotland games when he netted a late winner in the qualifier against the Faroe Islands in Torshavn last month, to be restored to the starting line-up against Denmark at Hampden tomorrow evening.

He has forged a good partnership in attack with the Queens Park Rangers forward and is looking forward to being reunited with him if he is selected for a Group F game the national team need to win to ensure they are seeded for the play-off draw on Friday week.

“There’s always room for Dyksey!” he said. “He’s a great player who helps the team massively. Everyone knows what he’s about and everyone appreciates him.

“It was different without Lyndon. I like Lyndon and I think we get on well and there’s a good understanding. It’s difficult. We missed him today, but he’s back in for Monday and hopefully we pick up the result we need there.”

Scotland fans have taken Adams, who qualifies to play for this country through a maternal grandmother who hails from Edinburgh, to their hearts since he first donned a dark blue jersey eight months ago.

The Leicester-born player has appreciated the backing he has received and predicted the support will have a huge role to play as the national team attempt to reach their first World Cup finals since France ’98 next year.

“The fans were amazing over in Moldova,” he said. “To go all the way over there was unreal. Hats off to them as it’s not an easy place to come. They support us through thick and thin. We got the three points and did it for them.

“There’s a strong connection between the fans and the players. Hopefully that can continue. For home games the support is amazing too. It just makes you feel welcomed and appreciated. Hopefully that’s what will drag us through.

“Everyone in this group works so hard for each other and has so much time for everyone else. We all respect each other and you can see that with the performances on the pitch.

“Credit to the gaffer for making an environment where that spirit and desire to do more for each other is clear. Fair play to him.”