Euro 2016: Ikechi Anya happy to be water boy for Republic match

Ikechi Anya was released by Wycombe Wanderers at 17 and later moved to Spain to work with Glenn Hoddle at his football academy

Winger Ikechi Anya insists he will not complain if Scotland manager Gordon Strachan plays him at right-back against the Republic of Ireland.

The 27-year-old has experience of playing as a wing-back at Watford but it is in a more advanced position that he has usually played for Scotland.

"That is where the gaffer wanted to play me," he said of his right-back role against Qatar last week.

"If the gaffer said I had to be water boy and we won, I'd gladly do it."

The Glasgow-born player, who moved to Oxford aged seven, added: "It's bigger than one person., the thing we've got here.

"There are no egos here. We are all looking out for each other. We have very much a team environment.

"We have a massive game against Ireland. We know that if we can get the points it will stand us in good stead to qualify for a major tournament and that's more than any footballer can ask for.

"I see the quality we have. If we can keep focused and not let the game get to us, it would put us in a great position - then we've got four games left and I'm confident we can secure the points.

"What's the point coming here if we don't believe? How can we make the fans believe if we don't believe ourselves?

"Every one of us is convinced we can do it. This is the reason we are here, we want to qualify for a major tournament."

Anya's route to playing for his country is unusual. He was released by Wycombe Wanderers at 17 and had unremarkable stints at a few non-league English clubs and worked as a PE teacher before moving to Spain in 2009 to work with Glenn Hoddle at his football academy.

He was signed by Sevilla and played for their second string team before spells at Celta, Granada and Cadiz preceded a move to Watford in 2013, where his performances earned him a call-up by Strachan.

He won the first of his 14 caps to date when he came on as a substitute against Belgium in September 2013, and scored against world champions Germany in a 2-1 defeat in Dortmund last September.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, he said of international football: "I appreciate it more having not had it before.

"I'm happy with the route my career has taken and I hope I can keep building it further. I wouldn't change it for anything."