GARY Naysmith failed to help the Scotland national team reach the final of a major tournament during his international career.

The Everton left-back represented his country with distinction on no fewer than 46 occasions.

Alas, none of those appearances in the dark blue of Scotland came in a European Championship or a World Cup.

The Edinburgh-born player broke into his national team towards the end of his tenure with Hearts in 2000.

And we have fallen short in all of our qualifying campaigns since reaching France '98 under the shrewd guidance of Craig Brown.

Yet Naysmith, now taking his first steps in management with East Fife, is optimistic that Scotland will end that agonising barren run in the very near future.

Like so many members of the Tartan Army, he has been heartened by performances under Gordon Strachan in the past 12 months.

And the 35-year-old believes Strachan can boost Scotland's chances of reaching Euro 2016 in France by handing Rangers star Lee Wallace a starting spot in his side.

Despite playing against part-time clubs in the third tier of Scottish football, Wallace forced his way back into the Scotland set-up last year.

He made his first international appearance in over a year when he came on as a substitute in the World Cup qualifier against Macedonia in September.

And the 26-year-old helped to ensure his side secured a morale-boosting 2-1 victory in Skopje.

He also played in the friendly with the United States at Hampden in November and assisted his team in grinding out a 0-0 draw.

Strachan has often played Steven Whittaker at left- back - despite the fact it is not the Norwich defender's natural position - since succeeding Craig Levein.

Many Scotland fans feel that making the step up from SPFL League One to international football is too much to ask of Wallace.

But Naysmith, who saw the Rangers man in action once again at Ibrox on Saturday, believes he is currently the best candidate for the job.

He said: "I think it is quite right that Lee is not only back in the Scotland squad but that he is playing in the Scotland team as well.

"If you are the best player in a position then you should be playing for the national team there regardless of what league you are playing in.

"He is the best left-back that Scotland have got so in my opinion he should be playing in the national team.

"I don't think that is in question.

"It is like the old saying: 'If you are good enough you are old enough'.

"Well, if you are the best player you should play regardless of the fact you are playing in League One or wherever else.

"He is definitely showing the form to merit inclusion in the Scotland side. He is incredibly consistent."

East Fife played superbly in the League One match against Rangers at Ibrox at the weekend and were unlucky not to earn a draw.

Both Liam Buchanan and Gary Fisher squandered gilt-edged chances to cancel out Dean Shiels' early opener.

Naysmith, whose last game as a professional player was against Rangers at New Bayview back in October, revealed that he made halting Wallace a priority for his charges before kick-off.

"If you have watched Rangers this season, as I have, then more often than not Lee has been their best player," said the former Goodison Park man.

"It is very unusual when you are analysing an opposition team to say that their main threat is their left-back.

"I don't think that ever happened when I played certainly!

"But that is what you have to do when you play Rangers. He poses that much of a threat."

Naysmith added: "Our paths didn't cross at Hearts. I had left before he came through there. But I kept in touch with people at the Tynecastle club and everybody spoke extremely highly of him.

"I can see why now. I think he is a natural athlete.

"He goes forward and plays like a left winger at times. But importantly, he can always get back and help out the team defensively as well.

"When Rangers go up to the Championship next season he will be the best player in that league as well. That's just the type of lad he is."