Stuart Armstrong is the best player in Scotland at the moment, and as such, he has to start for Scotland as we look to salvage our qualifying campaign against Slovenia on Sunday night.

But I think it would be unfair of Scotland supporters to pin their hopes of a World Cup revival solely on his shoulders, although given his form, I’m sure more than a few will be.

One man who won’t be putting that sort of pressure on the Celtic midfielder is the national manager Gordon Strachan, but there is no doubt that Armstrong looks set to be a key figure in what Gordon himself has admitted is a must-win game. Not only for our chances of qualifying, but realistically, for his job prospects too.

In the past, if a player was coming into a Scotland squad without having earned a cap before, you might expect that he would be eased in with a run-out in a friendly before being pitched into competitive qualifiers.

The very fact that Gordon resisted the urge to give Stuart part of the game against Canada at Easter Road last night tells you that he sees the player as a key figure for the game on Sunday night, and he isn't prepared to risk him picking up an injury.

And while the Scotland boss will be emphasising the fact that a fantastic team effort will be required to get those vital three points that we so badly need, there is no doubt that he feels Armstrong can be the man who makes a difference.

His form for Celtic this season has been nothing short of sensational, and with the Scotland strikers not exactly firing on all cylinders at the moment, his goal threat from midfield could be absolutely key.

We also have Matt Ritchie, Robert Snodgrass and others who can share that burden, but given the way this season has unfolded for Armstrong, who would bet against him being the hero for the Scots too?

To give Scotland the best possible chance of a result, the inclusion of both Armstrong and club teammate Scott Brown in the midfield will be vital.

As a pairing, they have been fantastic for Celtic in both the domestic arena and on the European stage, and they complement each other terrifically well.

With both of those players involved, it would give Scotland a great chance of controlling the midfield area and imposing themselves on the visitors.

It’s wonderful to see so many Celtic players involved in the squad, particularly when they are doing so well at club level.

These players are used to winning, their confidence is sky-high, and I think you can make a case for any one of them to be in the starting line-up.

Craig Gordon, I have to say, is just a terrific keeper, and for me he would keep the gloves ahead of David Marshall, who is also very accomplished.

I wasn’t in the camp at the start of the season that thought Gordon wasn’t adequately comfortable with the ball at his feet, but he has gone away and improved that side of his game on the advice of his manager.

I have yet to see him put a foot, or a hand, wrong for his country, and I would back him as the best keeper in the squad.

Kieran Tierney edges out Andy Robertson at left-back. There has been a lot of talk about how to accommodate both of them in the side, and it does seem a shame when one of our two best players would be sitting on the bench.

For me though, you have to have young Tierney in his favoured position, and contrary to what many people think, I don’t think you can play either of them on the opposite side.

People look at Tommy Gemmell who was accomplished on either side, but I think it is easier for a right-back to play left-back than vice-versa for some peculiar reason. Perhaps it is because left-footed players tend to have a really strong left foot, but a weak right.

I’m not saying that is the case with Tierney, but I would love to see him tearing down his usual left side for Scotland on Sunday.

It is less certain whether James Forrest or Leigh Griffiths might play, but I think that Forrest would be the likelier of the two. He has been getting starts at club level and is in the best form of his career, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him given the nod.

We all know though that Gordon prefers a big striker who can hold up the ball, and that along with the fact that he has been on the bench for Celtic for the most part may hurt Griffiths’ chances.

The striker is an undoubted goal threat, even though he has yet to score in his 10 caps for his country, but I think that he will probably be the go-to guy if Scotland find themselves needing a goal.

Either way, there will be a significant Celtic presence in the Scotland side for this game, and I think that gives us a good chance of victory. Hopefully their winning mentality can rub off on one or two of their teammates.