WORLD CUP IN McLEAN SIGHT

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chance saloon territory when it comes to reaching the game’s showpiece with Scotland having not made it there since France 1998.

It’s a dream of everyone in the nation but the midfielder says squad heads won't be in clouds with a focus on the jobs.

He said: “I don't think it's about getting excited and dreaming. Obviously, we know where we want to go but we also know how hard it's going to be to get there.

“It's probably more for fans to get a bit excited and dream a bit more but for us it's one game at a time and we've got a massive one coming up.

“That's the one we focus on because we know positive results put us in an even better position.

“We relish the challenge.”

Clarke's boys have made the last two Euros but a World Cup would trump those efforts as McLean continued: “I think it tops most things, doesn't it?

“When everybody speaks on career achievement, World Cup is the pinnacle. We've got an opportunity right now and it’s about taking it because we know we've got the quality to do it.

“It's about not missing it. When an opportunity like this presents itself then it’s up to us to go and take it.

“We enjoyed the Euros, we did well to get there, we know what that feeling’s like qualifying for tournaments. It is what everybody in the country wants.

“Obviously a World Cup does sound that bit better but it’s about going and doing what we have previously and be successful in the campaigns. We've got the quality to do it.

“I don't think we need too much more motivation. We don't take these situations for granted.

“We know there’s a lot of unbelievable players who have not got to that stage. We've got the chance to go that one step further.

“With the quality we've got we know we can do it. So it’s about going and delivering now.

“We're always getting better and the quality in this country is always improving.