James Morrison hoping for West Brom minutes to boost Scotland chance

The 30-year-old has been named in the latest Scotland squad but he's struggled to get minutes for his country recently.

Morrison has been told by Scotland boss Gordon Strachan that he's unlikely to start unless he's playing for his club.

With James McClean already suspended, his chances of starting at Leicester City on Sunday were handed a further boost yesterday when record signing Nacer Chadli was ruled out with a knee injury that has also led to his withdrawal from the Belgium squad.

"It's been frustrating but Gordon said if I'm not playing minutes on a Saturday it's hard to put me in there when other players are," said Morrison.

"The front six is a flip of a coin really, it's that close, but I've got experience at that level. I'm just waiting patiently, that's what you've got to do in football."

The last time Scotland played England at Wembley, Morrison scored with a stinging long-range effort that Joe Hart parried into his net.

Scotland eventually lost that 2013 friendly 3-2 thanks to Rickie Lambert's late winner with his first touch in international football.

"It's a massive game," said Morrison. "That fixture, when it comes out, it always sticks out, that's the one you look for."

Morrison signed a new two-year contract in the summer but is yet to start a Premier League game this season.

Even though he's desperate to play this weekend in order to give him the best chance of featuring at Wembley in seven days' time, he's not going to upset the apple cart to do it.

"I think I'm old enough now not to kick the door down if I'm not playing, just to bide my time and wait for that chance," he said.

Celtic midfielder Scott Brown has been recalled to Strachan's squad after coming out of international retirement, but the former Scotland captain has not been given the armband, meaning Albion's Darren Fletcher remains skipper of his country.