Steve Clarke will send Oli Burke out to gun down Russia - after ordering his players to launch a four game winning streak ahead of the play-offs for Euro 2020.
Record Sport understands Burke will lead Scotland’s attack in Moscow with Dundee United’s striker Lawrence Shankland having to settle for a place on the bench after a dramatic call-up from the second tier of the SPFL.
Clarke also plans to fast-track Aberdeen defender Mikey Devlin into the centre of his defence after a raft of call-offs which has also seen Kenny McLean miss out on the trip to the Luzhniki after being sent home to Norwich on Wednesday morning.
But, even though his squad is severely depleted, Clarke arrived here last night adamant that his players will not be excused for suffering any more embarrassments as they stumble onto final stretch of a wretched Group I campaign.
He said: “There are no free hits - I’d like 12 points from the remaining four games of this group.
“Yes, we know it’s going to be really tough here in Russia but there are no free hits all the same. We owe it to the 1,000 or so Tartan Army who have travelled here to watch us as well.
“We are looking to put on a good performance and hopefully take all three points back to Scotland.
“I want a good performance level in the next four matches. My belief is always is the performance level is good enough then the points will follow.”
Clarke has already written off his chances of resuscitating this campaign following the double headed beatings that buried his side against Russia and Belgium at Hampden.
