Scotland assistant manager Mark McGhee says Andy Murray's rise to the top of the tennis world rankings can inspire their country to a famous victory against old rivals England.
The
29-year-old Murray, who has won Wimbledon and Olympic gold this year,
is now widely regarded as one of Scotland's greatest ever sportsmen.
Ahead of Friday's World Cup qualifier against England at Wembley, McGhee, who serves as Gordon Strachan's assistant, was asked if Scotland's football players would be encouraged to emulate Murray's achievements.
"Even better than that, my understanding is that he is coming to the game," McGhee told reporters on Monday.
"For
the players to know that he is up there and for the players to
replicate some sort of the achievement that he has -- I think every
single one of us are huge Andy Murray fans and totally respect the
achievement of what he has done for himself and the country.
"To emulate that in some way would be just fantastic."
Murray, a known football fan, is the first
British singles tennis player to be world number one since the inception
of the ATP rankings after his rise to top spot was confirmed over the
weekend.
Scotland will need all the
inspiration they can get against England as they fight to get back on
track in the race to reach the 2018 World Cup.
A
1-1 draw home to Lithuania and a 3-0 defeat in Slovakia in their last
qualifiers left Strachan's side languishing in fourth in Group F.
"Regardless of previous results, when this draw was made, that was the stand-out fixture," McGhee said.
"We have a huge support going there, that is the focus for us.
"I
would imagine the players, and I know in particular the manager, want
to give them something and a result against England would be perfect."
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