Scotland plan to trial West Brom winger Matt Phillips up front

The 26-year-old usually plies his trade on the wing, but interim Scotland boss Malky Mackay is planning to start Phillips up front tomorrow night in their friendly against the Netherlands.

Scotland have a shortage of strikers, but the Baggies have only scored 13 goals in their last 20 Premier League games, they need a goalscorer too.

Phillips scored five goals off the wing last season and has experience playing up front – having done it occasionally at Queens Park Rangers.

And it was at Loftus Road where he learned the trade from former Rangers boss and former striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

“Jimmy taught me to be a bit more off the cuff,” Phillips told the Scottish press. “He didn’t tell me so much what I had to do, he just liked the fact that I naturally liked to run in behind defences and that I was quick.

“That meant a ball over the top was always an option. Even when I’m out wide, I can be good with my back towards goal. I’m still learning and improving, so this would be another chance for me to do that.

“Jimmy still had the ability of a top striker when he took part in training with us at QPR.

“If I can add that to my armoury, it would be something extra and nice to have. I’ve got the physical size and, as I say, I always try to run in behind from the wide positions anyway. I

"I had a brief chat with Malky about playing up front. I’ve played there on a few occasions – I did it for Neil Warnock at QPR, as well as for Jimmy – but never regularly.

“I’ve always generally been a wide man but I’m delighted to play anywhere along the front line.”

There could be a change of leadership in the Albion dressing room soon, but head coach Tony Pulis is expected to be in charge for the Chelsea game at least.

Pulis currently prefers to play a 5-3-2 formation with wing-backs, negating the need for wingers like Phillips, James McClean, or Oliver Burke – all of whom have struggled for minutes recently.

Supporters have called for Phillips to be reinstated to the line-up, so perhaps a central role could provide a different way in.

“It’s been a bit up and down for me,” said Phillips, when asked about his season with the Baggies. “I found myself out the team the last few games and that’s disappointing. But if I keep working hard my time will come.”

His primary focus right now though is the friendly at Pittodrie, and he’s relishing the opportunity to shine on the international stage that wasn’t always given to him during Gordon Strachan’s reign.

“It’s nice to be in the reckoning to start the game,” said Phillips. “That’s massive for me.

“Anywhere up front, I’m happy and I’ll give my all. I’ve not scored yet for Scotland and it’s something I’m looking to do.

“I just need to learn from the manager what he would like me to do in that position and I’m delighted to be in his thoughts for this game.

“There has been a change of manager but this is a chance to start building for the new campaign.

“I want to stake my claim for the Euro 2020 qualifiers. Missing out on the World Cup play-offs was a massive blow. We all believed we could win in Slovenia, so it was a huge disappointment.

“I thoroughly enjoyed being in the team towards the end of the campaign and everyone responded really well to Gordon and gave 100 per cent for him.

“A few of my team-mates at West Brom are in the play-offs this week, with Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.

“I wish them all the best but it’s hard to watch them go into those games while we miss out.

“We came close and we just have to take it as a positive going into the next campaign."