Malky's Men A Mix Of Maturity And Might Make Its

MALKY MACKAY this afternoon named his first Scotland A squad since picking-up the poisoned chalice of running the national team, in the wake of Gordon Strachan's departure. At least, unlike his predecessor, Malky has shown, he rates the talent in the Scottish League, by naming 14 Home-Scots and a mere 10 Anglos in his 24-man squad, which is:

 Malky Mackay - favours Home Scots in his squad

Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon (Celtic), David Marshall (Hull City), Jordan Archer (Millwall).

Defenders: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool), Charlie Mulgrew (Blackburn Rovers), Kieran Tierney (Celtic), Liam Cooper (Leeds United), Christophe Berra (Heart of Midlothian), Paul Hanlon (Hibernian), Callum Paterson (Cardiff City).

Midfielders: Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen), John McGinn (Hibernian), Ryan Jack (Rangers), Stuart Armstrong (Celtic), Darren Fletcher (Stoke City), James Forrest, Callum McGregor (Celtic), Kenny McLean (Aberdeen), Scott Brown (Celtic), Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth), Matt Phillips (West Bromwich Albion).

Forwards: Leigh Griffiths (Celtic), Jason Cummings (Nottingham Forest), Ryan Christie (Aberdeen – on-loan from Celtic).

It's a difficult additional job for Mackay. This might well be his solitary match as Scotland boss, it comes under the heading: “meaningless friendly”, but, the Tartan Army will still demand a performance from whichever team he puts on the park.

Mackay may then, win, lose or draw, have to hand over responsibility for the national team to someone else, or, he may be lumbered with the job. I applaud the fact he has left out some almost automatic choices under WGS, who, while they never let Scotland down, were maybe capped simply because they were playing in England, and Strachan didn't really rate the domestic game.

 Ryan Christie - not good enough for Celtic's first team, but, in the national squad

I further applaud the inclusion of some new faces, younger, home-based players who have come through the Under-21 team – the likes of Kenny McLean of Aberdeen, John McGinn of Hibs and young Ryan Christie, the Celtic starlet, on-loan at Pittodrie. They deserve their chance to show what they can do, and this is the right sort of match in which to blood them.

And it is good too, to see Callum Paterson back after his injury. Kieran Tierney has done well as an emergency right back, but, Paterson is a natural fit there.

Of course, there are still some old hands in the squad to show the new boys the ropes – Craig Gordon, Christophe Berra and the midfield pillars, Scott Brown and Darren Fletcher.

But, let's not forget, this is a Scotland squad, for a “meaningless friendly”, so let's see how many changes there are between today's announcement and the team meeting-up. There may be more changes to come.

WHILE Mackay is keeper of one poisoned chalice, there continues to be media speculation as to who will get possession of the other one – the one with the nice big office at the top of the marble staircase on Edmiston Drive.

 Derek McInnes - will be stay or will he go?

The stenographers will be punting the Derek McInnes for Ibrox line for all they are worth. Ex-Rangers player, doing well at Aberdeen, natural fit and all that – except. Can Rangers afford him – compensation to Aberdeen for McInnes and those of his back-room team he would wish to take south with him, would set Rangers back nearly £2 million. Do they have that much cash floating around?

We have yet to discover if they have paid-up on Messrs Warburton and Weir, far-less Pedro and the Portugese Posse. There are reports of several millions needing to be spent on urgent renovations to Ibrox, and these issues would have to be tackled before we get round to a transfer budget for McInnes, or whoever gets the job of replacing Pedro.

If there is one thing that club needs, it is a period of stability, reflection and the implementation of a long-term plan of action – something which has been sorely lacking under the guidance of the “Concert Party” currently running things down Edmiston Drive.

Whatever they are paying him for his fire-fighting services, wee Jim Traynor is earning his corn, keeping the stenographers away from asking the questions which require to be asked of the men at the top of this distressed club.

And, for what it is worth, if I was Derek McInnes, I wouldn't touch the Rangers job with a barge pole, until there were changes upstairs at Ibrox. He's better off where he is.

NO NAMES, no pack drill, but, one of the better Scottish football writers recently found the exit tunnel from his failing daily and escaped the rat race for the well-upholstered world of public relations. This meant, he could now, on a Saturday, devote his attentions to the club he loved, free from accusations of this being his “diddy” team, and, in reality he favoured one or other of the Bigot Brothers.

On Saturday, his club was entertaining their nearest neighbours, and most-deadly rivals in one of Scotland's other local derbies. And, where was our hero – why, where you would expect a high-powered pr executive to be: eating his prawn sandwiches at Old Trafford.

So much for loyalty, and bringing-up his son in the true faith.