Scotland assistant manager Mark McGhee believes newcomer Liam Bridcutt is the ideal candidate for a holding midfield role should Gordon Strachan decide to play an anchor man.
Bridcutt was a surprise inclusion in Strachan's squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Serbia and could make his debut against Chris Coleman's side at Hampden on Friday night. The 23-year-old is in his third season with Brighton and has helped take the club from League One to the verge of a Championship play-off place.
McGhee said: "He's such a consistent performer. He is not the most creative player in the world - I don't think he will be offended if I say that - but his level of performance is so consistent. You know exactly what you are going to get."
He added: "I live in Brighton so I go to games there more often than I watch other teams. So over the last couple of years I have seen a lot of him and I don't think I have seen the boy play badly.
"He plays in front of the back four and he breaks things down and keeps the ball. And if the manager decides we need somebody to do that job, in terms of who we have available to us at this moment in time, there is no-one better at that job."
Bridcutt, who qualifies through his late Edinburgh-born grandfather Robert, has made more than 130 appearances for Brighton since Gus Poyet signed him from Chelsea and is looking to make his mark on the international stage.
With Scott Brown and Darren Fletcher unavailable for fitness reasons, he could get an immediate chance.
Bridcutt told www.scottishfa.co.uk: "It would be great to be involved but first I need to show the manager what I am capable of. I have waited for this opportunity for a while so I want to work hard to show I deserve to be here.
"I'm looking forward to showing the supporters what I can do.
"If I were to describe myself I would say I am a hard-working holding midfield player who gives everything. I have learned a lot from Gus and I am looking forward to testing myself on the international stage."
