Scotland content with talented squad - Mark McGhee

Scotland face Northern Ireland in a friendly at Hampden on Wednesday

Assistant manager Mark McGhee believes qualification for Euro 2016 is the only criteria for the Scotland squad to be considered "something special".

Scotland play a friendly with Northern Ireland on Wednesday to warm up for Sunday's qualifier with Gibraltar.

"I think we have the opportunity to create something special," said McGhee.

"That something special can only be qualifying. If we do then we can consider it to be a bit more special than it has been recently."

Gordon Strachan's side are third in Group D with seven points from four games and another three points should be taken against the bottom side, who have no points from four games and have yet to score while conceding 21 goals.

Scotland are aiming to reach their first major finals since the 1998 World Cup.

"I think if we go on and finish the campaign as strongly as we started then we have a chance of qualifying," added McGhee.

"We are happy with the talent we have at our disposal and it is demonstrated by the players we can name who aren't here.

"We are content that we have a talented squad that we have to make the best of and that is the challenge for us."

McGhee went on to hint that Strachan will use the depth of his squad over the two matches at Hampden Park.

"Gordon is very conscious of respecting the clubs and the managers and some of these guys have huge campaigns ahead of them," he explained.

"We certainly won't be doing anything that jeopardises any of chances of finishing the season well. So we have to pick teams for the two games which balance our needs and the needs of the clubs.

"Gibraltar sit deep, they defend in numbers and regardless of the scores against them in other games, you still have to work hard to break them down."

Bournemouth forward Matt Ritchie is in the Scotland squad for the first time

The Scotland camp is without Stuart McCall, who stepped down from his role as coach to take over as Rangers manager until the end of the season.

And McGhee is sure McCall will be handed the job on a full-time basis and that Strachan will soon be looking for a new member of staff.

"Gordon and I took a bit of time to decide what we needed in in terms of the backroom team and who it was going to be," he said.

"We met Stuart privately to make sure we felt he was the right personality and we did that because we felt there is a burden of work when we are here that requires three of us.

"He wasn't here to make up the card school, he was here because we needed him.

"I think Stuart is of a calibre that I will be amazed if he doesn't stay at Rangers."