GORDON STRACHAN will be hoping the Celtic connection will inspire his lacklustre Scotland team to victory over Slovenia at Hampden tomorrow night.
The international boss is poised to give the nod to six Hoops stars in the must-win World Cup encounter.
Craig Gordon, Kieran Tierney, Scott Brown, Stuart Armstrong, James Forrest and Leigh Griffiths are ready to accept the challenge on their nation’s behalf.
Teenage left-back Tierney said: “It’s good for Celtic that there are so many international Scottish players.
“Everyone brings their own bit of positivity to the group and obviously what Celtic have done this season has been great.
“If we can add any positivity, if we get the chance to play, then that’s what we will do.
“It’s hard because the games are tight for Celtic. They are hard games.
“We’re not so far ahead just like that. We’ve worked hard to get there, it’s not come as easy because every team challenges you. I wouldn’t say anything is easy.
“Celtic is a big-pressure club and the experience of playing there for the last two or three seasons, it does stand you in good stead for coming here.
“Obviously, Sunday is a big pressure game. Hopefully, that experience will count.”
Tierney has also backed last season’s 40-goal man Griffiths to make an impact, although the striker sat out the Hoops’ 2-1 win at Dundee last week and only got 28 minutes of the 1-1 draw against Canada in midweek.
The defender said: “Leigh is working very hard in training, so fitness won’t be a problem for him.
“Hopefully, he can get on the park and does really well as he did against Canada.”
Tierney added: “It’s great to be called up and be part of the squad, so I’m happy about that.
“I made the jump from the Under-19s last season. I’ve now been in three or four squads, sadly I also had to pull out a few.
“I’m getting used to it now. I know everybody and it’s a good team. It’s a good group of boys.
“Everyone is doing everything we can on the training field, we’re working hard every day. We want to make it right.”
