I can’t argue with Steve Clarke’s squad selection for Scotland’s play-off final next week.
And there’s certainly no question that Craig Gordon has earned his recall.
The fact that all three of our keepers are well into their 30s is a bit of a concern but in the here and now, it’s not an issue.
Craig’s quality has never been in question.
Injuries were his biggest obstacle but the way in which he overcame them is a big box ticked as well.
A lot of people started jumping on the bandwagon after his man of the match performance for Hearts in the Scottish Cup semi-final on Saturday night.
But I’d already seen the week before at Gayfield that he was at the top of his game. I actually mentioned it in last week’s column. There was one save in particular that was as important for Robbie Neilson’s team as Craig Wighton’s goal.
The save everybody is talking about to keep out Kevin Nisbet’s header is the perfect example of Craig’s big strength.
There have been dozens of examples down the years of reaction saves like that on his line. That’s his calling card.
Agility and spring are probably the first things that start to diminish as a goalie gets older but that save showed it isn’t happening with Craig yet.
Stevie Woods at Celtic and now Paul Gallacher at Hearts are doing a good job with his training and Craig is doing an equally good job in keeping himself in great shape.
He knows his strengths and he’s never been the type of keeper who commands his box and will come 12 yards to claim a cross.
The one goal everybody talks about that he conceded is Harry Kane’s at Hampden and there are plenty of goalies I can think of who would have closed Kane down and given themselves a better chance of stopping it.
For me, David Marshall is the best all-round keeper Scotland have and even though Craig is on top form, there is no decision for Clarke to make.
Marshy has to play against Serbia, it’s as simple as that.
He’s capable of those reactions saves I talked about (check out one for Derby in the game against Norwich when Wayne Rooney’s free-kick got all the headlines) and he has been the reassuring presence Scotland have needed in this unbeaten run.
I’ve got no doubt that he’ll be the first name on the team-sheet in Belgrade.
I’m not expecting to see Leigh Griffiths in the starting line-up, mind you.
Lyndon Dykes and Ryan Fraser will be given the nod – and rightly so.
But what an option to have off the bench.
Hopefully we won’t need him and the starters will do the job next Thursday night but you can be sure that if the circumstances require a fox in the box, then Sparky is the man Clarke will turn to.
Don’t worry about his attitude. He’ll be delighted to be involved again and won’t be throwing his toys out of the pram if he isn’t picked in the first 11.
He’s one of those players who sometimes seems to write his own scripts. What a time to come up with a happy ending!
It’s been three league defeats at Arbroath and the gaffer will make sure it’s back to basics against Queen of the South at Gayfield on Saturday.
The short season means it is important to not let bad runs drag on too long and we know we need to be better all across the pitch.
