Souness: Give Strachan new deal

Graeme Souness says Gordon Strachan should be given a new contract after leading Scotland to a 2-2 draw with England.

Supporters of the national team questioned Strachan after they failed to qualify for Euro 2016, but they were moments from securing a famous victory over England at Hampden Park on Saturday.

Leigh Griffiths scored two late free-kicks to leave Scotland 2-1 ahead in injury-time, but Harry Kane denied them with an equaliser in the 94th minute.

However, Sky Sports pundit and former Scotland international, Souness, said Strachan has now proved he is the best man for the job.

He said: “There isn’t anybody out there that could do a better job than him, it’s as simple as that.

“I think we should give him another contract on the back of that performance because that is so encouraging.

“We can go in against what is deemed a very good team and match them in every department and nearly beat them.

“I’m a Gordon fan and I think he should stay in that job for as long as he wants to.

“There’s no magic to coaching. It’s about getting the most out of the players you’ve got and he does that.”

The result leaves Scotland six points behind England with four matches to play in the race to qualify for next summer’s World Cup in Russia.

But Souness believes Strachan is maximising the potential of a group of players who are limited at international level.

He added: “As a manager of a national team you have to work with what the country is producing at that particular time.

“He is talking about organisation, spirit and togetherness and he is doing it. For me, he is getting the most out of the team.

“Gordon knows football. He knows the system that now suits the players he’s got. Sometimes he will have to play that way, which in some people’s eyes is maybe slightly negative.

“But he’s playing against England – a team that’s full of ‘top players’ and we’ve come so close to beating them.”