Sheffield Wednesday: Strachan's praise for Jordan Rhodes but has he done enough to earn another Scotland cap this weekend?

Scotland manager Gordon Strachan has praised the hard work of Sheffield Wednesday striker Jordan Rhodes throughout this week on a return to international duty.
Scotland manager Gordon Strachan gestures on the touchline during the International Friendly match at Easter Road, Edinburgh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire.Scotland manager Gordon Strachan gestures on the touchline during the International Friendly match at Easter Road, Edinburgh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire.
Scotland manager Gordon Strachan gestures on the touchline during the International Friendly match at Easter Road, Edinburgh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire.

However, speaking after the Scots’ 1-1 draw with Canada at Easter Road, Strachan offered little indication that another cap will be in the offing when his side take on Slovenia in a crucial World Cup qualifier on Sunday.

He told The Star: “(Rhodes) has been like the rest of the lads, who have applied themselves very well.

Scotland's Jordan Rhodes misses a late chance to score during the International Friendly match at Easter Road, Edinburgh. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire.Scotland's Jordan Rhodes misses a late chance to score during the International Friendly match at Easter Road, Edinburgh. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire.
Scotland's Jordan Rhodes misses a late chance to score during the International Friendly match at Easter Road, Edinburgh. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire.
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“He’s been a good team mate. A good team mate in training, he’s joined in well with the players, so just what we expect from Jordan really. Just like the rest of the lads.”

Strachan was taking the match against Canada, in which Scotland had to come from behind to earn a draw, thanks to Steven Naismith’s equaliser, as an opportunity to give players the chance to stake their claim for a place in the side.

Rhodes would have been one of those and in the 30 minutes he had on a difficult pitch, the Owls frontman found it tough going.

“It was one of our better decisions to have a game,” Strachan added. “It has cleared up a lot of things, it has helped a lot of players, but it has helped the coaching staff. We learned quite a few things.

Scotland's Jordan Rhodes misses a late chance to score during the International Friendly match at Easter Road, Edinburgh. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire.Scotland's Jordan Rhodes misses a late chance to score during the International Friendly match at Easter Road, Edinburgh. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire.
Scotland's Jordan Rhodes misses a late chance to score during the International Friendly match at Easter Road, Edinburgh. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire.
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“It’s not been a great night, it won’t be memorable in anyone’s minds at the end of careers but it was invaluable to me to use the information we collected for Sunday.”

Barry Bannan came on at half time in the game and performed well but Steven Fletcher remained on the bench.

In Doha, Qatar, young Owls striker George Hirst came on as a late substitute as England’s under 18s beat Saudia Arabia 2-0 at the Aspire Sports Village. They are again in action on tomorrow night against the host nation at the same venue.