LEE McCulloch believes Alex McLeish can hit the ground running as Scotland manager and bring the glory days back to the national side.

The former Rangers captain insists his old boss at Ibrox and Motherwell is the perfect man for the job, with his excellent man management perfectly suited to the international scene.

McLeish kicks off his second reign as Scotland’s head coach in tomorrow night’s friendly against Costa Rica at Hampden, and McCulloch is hoping that it is the first page in a successful chapter for the Scots under his guidance.

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“There are five friendlies before the real stuff starts so I think that probably is enough time to hit the ground running for the first game,” McCulloch said.

“It’s about bedding the players and the team in and that’s what Alex is good at.

Scotland’s head coach in tomorrow night’s friendly against Costa Rica at Hampden, and McCulloch is hoping that it is the first page in a successful chapter for the Scots under his guidance.
“There are five friendlies before the real stuff starts, so I think that probably is enough time to hit the ground running for the first game,” McCulloch said.
“It’s about bedding the players and the team in and that’s what Alex is good at.

“First of all, he helped me when I was playing with Motherwell. He gave me my debut when I had just turned 17 and he was brilliant with me.

“I was a wee bit uptight at that age, believe it or not, and he would always put his arm round me and help me relax.

“I will always look up to Alex and I think he can really make a stamp again. He has done it before and hopefully he does again.

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“He is the ideal guy to bed in new players and James McFadden is brilliant in a dressing room as well.”

McFadden – one of McLeish’s assistant coaches – was a hero to Scotland fans with 15 goals in 48 internationals, and McCulloch believes that the former Everton and Birmingham player can be just as major an influence off the park as he was on it.

“He was good for me,” said McCulloch, who won seven of his 18 caps under McLeish. 

“I went a few games when I was struggling for confidence for Scotland, and he was the guy I sort of leaned on.”