Collins: Scotland should be aiming for six points from next two games

John Collins insists Scotland should be aiming to end their Nations League campaign on a high with two wins from their remaining two games.

The national team take on Croatia at Hampden on Friday before travelling to Poland for the final game of the section on Monday.

After losing their first three games they managed to stop the rot with a draw against Portugal in Glasgow last month.

And Collins, who earned 58 caps for his country and appeared at two major tournaments, believes they can take all six points now that they have “stopped the bleeding” and have some key players, including Aston Villa’s John McGinn, back from injury.

He said: “They’ve stopped the bleeding and stopped the defeats, the performances have been better, albeit the manager has a lot of injuries and it’s been tough for him getting a team on the pitch.

“There’s been positives, in the last few performances there has been improvements, so hopefully they can continue that and try to get some victories.

“It will be tough, this section has a lot of good teams in it so there are no easy games, you are up against some top quality opponents so it’s not easy for Steve, his coaching team or the players.

“I think we can win both of our next two games, I think we can beat Croatia at home, with a big home crowd at Hampden, and I think we are a better team than Poland.

“If we can get our best team on the pitch I think we should be aiming to win both those games.”

Collins has also been impressed by what he has seen from 19-year-old Ben Doak after the on-loan Middlesbrough youngster was brought into the international setup but warned against raising expectations on the winger before he is fully established at club level.

He said: “Ben is a young player, he’s not played many games for his club, it’s obvious for everyone to see he has that pace, which excites you, he has skill, but now he has to add to his game and bring in that finishing touch, the final pass, the shot, the cross.

“He gives us that excitement, something we’ve been lacking, pace, which is difficult to find.

“But he’s still young so let’s get him bedded into club football before we expect too much at international level.”