There was a point in David Marshall's career when all the highs seemed to be behind rather in front.

These days, however, the goalkeeper can rightly feel that the best is yet to come for him after fully establish himself for both club and country.

Martin O'Neill joked that Marshall could retire at the tender age of 19 after holding Barcelona at bay in the Nou Camp after a suspension to Rab Douglas, the regular custodian of the goalkeeping jersey.

The following year Marshall saved a penalty from Barca's Ronaldhino, then at the height of his game, and he appeared to have the world at his feet.

Ironically, it was the arrival of Gordon Strachan at Celtic that left Marshall out in the old at his boyhood club.

Artur Boruc was brought in and Marshall found himself spending more and more time on the bench, the catalyst for his eventual decision to quit the club and head south.

Even then, however, with impressive performances for Norwich and then Cardiff, Marshall has found that international honours have been hard to come by.

Aged 30, he has earned 16 caps to date for Scotland.

Yet, the biggest indication that he could be set to lay claim to the position as Scotland No.1 ahead of Allan McGregor and Craig Gordon came with Strachan's decision to hand him the gloves for that opening Euro 2016 game against Germany.

With Gordon and McGregor both given 45 minutes in the midweek friendly against Northern Ireland, a betting man would perhaps stick his cash on Marshall to start the qualifier in Sunday.

It will be tomorrow morning before any of the trio is made aware of who will start against Gibraltar but Marshall can feel quietly optimistic as he prepares for the Hampden game.

However, the Cardiff stopper - named last May in the Sky Sports Premiership team of the season - will take nothing for granted.

"The manager hasn't announced the team yet so we'll just take it as it comes at the weekend," said Marshall. "It doesn't bother me either way. I've had it through my career.

"I've been in the squad long enough to know it's hard not to play.

"I've played the last few qualifiers and I'm looking to play on Sunday - hopefully I'll not have a lot to do.

"With the standard of goalkeepers here it's difficult to consider yourself No.1.

"I waited a long time to get a chance. Craig has done great to get fit and play at this level again, so I won't take it for granted.

"Craig is at Celtic and Allan is in the Premier League. I don't think it will be a big decision whoever plays. I don't think it will make a massive difference

"The manager has stuck me in from the start of the campaign so I'm looking to keep playing well and stay in the side.

"I've had to wait a long time to get caps. It makes it that bit more valuable as I'm getting older when I've had to wait for that chance. I don't want to give it up."

Andy Goram recently claimed that the current goalkeeping trio were the best that have ever been available to a Scotland manager.

While Marshall was flattered by the compliment, he is savvy enough to appreciate that one poor performance will linger long in the memory.

"When I was younger Andy himself and Jim Leighton were considered great," said Marshall. "Back in the day we had a great group as well.

"Coming from someone like Andy who's a legend with Rangers and Scotland, it's a great honour. We can't read too much into that, we just have to keep performing.

"We're judged on our performances so it's good to get that. We just have to concentrate on playing well for the rest of the campaign."

A win would put Scotland in a commanding position, although it will doubtless be in the aftermath of the summer game against the Republic of Ireland that a clearer picture of the dynamics of the group will emerge.

Scotland are expected not only to win against Gibraltar, but to win comfortably, a scenario that has historically rarely sat easily with the national side.

"There's a lot of pressure on us to win the game," he said. "It will put us in a great position if we manage to do that. But personally it's just good to be playing.

"It's a difficult game to talk about because concentration levels have got to be high. But football is weird - a set-piece or deflection can change things.

"We need to start the game well. I'm sure the crowd will help early in the game. The earlier we can score, the better.

"Concentration-wise, it will be difficult. This is probably the only time with Scotland I'm not expected to have much to do.

"But the concentration is a massive thing. I had it with Celtic when I was younger, playing a lot of games when there wasn't a lot to do."

It is a stat that is trotted out repeatedly to haunt the national side, but a near-on 17-year absence from a major tournament becomes more galling with every passing finals.

"I am desperate to play and, as I said, it's been a long, long time since we have seen Scotland qualify for a finals," said Marshall.

"We have started the group reasonably well so hopefully this weekend can be a good one for us.

"We have managed somehow to land in the toughest group, but if we can get into the top two or even a play-off then that would be great.

"I think it will be after the Irish match that we will have a clearer idea of how the group is going."