STEVEN Naismith was last night rewarded for his early-season form for Rangers when he was named in the Scotland team for their Euro 2012 opener against Lithuania.
Naismith has not been involved in either of Craig Levein's friendly games but he came straight in for the Scotland manager's first competitive match.
Levein has made eight changes to the team that lost 3-0 to Sweden last month, three of them enforced for fitness reasons as Lee Wallace, Kevin Thomson and Steven Fletcher are unavailable.
James McFadden was the most high-profile casualty from that defeat with Christophe Berra, Kirk Broadfoot and Charlie Adam also making way along with Garry Kenneth.
But while Naismith's inclusion was unexpected, there were few other surprises in the team.
Lee McCulloch won a two-horse race with Paul Hartley for the holding midfield role while Alan Hutton proved his fitness following hernia surgery to take his place at right-back.
Hutton will be part of an experienced back four in Kaunas tonight with 40-year-old David Weir partnering Stephen McManus at centre-back to become Scotland's oldest capped player, and Steven Whittaker at left-back.
Goalkeeper Allan McGregor, captain Darren Fletcher and midfielder Barry Robson are the only three to retain their places while Kenny Miller starts up front after netting five goals in three games for Rangers this season.
Naismith has also netted for the Ibrox club this term, when he starred in central midfield during victory over Kilmarnock.
That versatility from the former Killie striker has seen him jump ahead of McFadden and Graham Dorrans, who started in Levein's opening win over the Czech Republic but was injured for the Sweden encounter.
The Rangers player impressed when starting for Scotland in their last competitive international, a 1-0 World Cup qualifying defeat by Holland.
And his ability to track back as well as get forward has earned him a start in Levein's midfield.
Following that disappointing result in Stockholm, the team has a more solid look normally associated with Levein's sides and captain Fletcher revealed he had been encouraged by the way the manager had left his mark on the players since then.
"I've been very impressed, he is a really experienced manager and definitely knows what he wants from his players,'' the Manchester United midfielder said.
"He has made it very clear that the performance in Sweden wasn't acceptable.
''So maybe that result was a timely reminder of getting back to basics and the manager stamping his authority on the team."
Levein has made eight changes to the team that lost 3-0 to Sweden last month, three of them enforced for fitness reasons as Lee Wallace, Kevin Thomson and Steven Fletcher are unavailable.
James McFadden was the most high-profile casualty from that defeat with Christophe Berra, Kirk Broadfoot and Charlie Adam also making way along with Garry Kenneth.
But while Naismith's inclusion was unexpected, there were few other surprises in the team.
Lee McCulloch won a two-horse race with Paul Hartley for the holding midfield role while Alan Hutton proved his fitness following hernia surgery to take his place at right-back.
Hutton will be part of an experienced back four in Kaunas tonight with 40-year-old David Weir partnering Stephen McManus at centre-back to become Scotland's oldest capped player, and Steven Whittaker at left-back.
Goalkeeper Allan McGregor, captain Darren Fletcher and midfielder Barry Robson are the only three to retain their places while Kenny Miller starts up front after netting five goals in three games for Rangers this season.
Naismith has also netted for the Ibrox club this term, when he starred in central midfield during victory over Kilmarnock.
That versatility from the former Killie striker has seen him jump ahead of McFadden and Graham Dorrans, who started in Levein's opening win over the Czech Republic but was injured for the Sweden encounter.
The Rangers player impressed when starting for Scotland in their last competitive international, a 1-0 World Cup qualifying defeat by Holland.
And his ability to track back as well as get forward has earned him a start in Levein's midfield.
Following that disappointing result in Stockholm, the team has a more solid look normally associated with Levein's sides and captain Fletcher revealed he had been encouraged by the way the manager had left his mark on the players since then.
"I've been very impressed, he is a really experienced manager and definitely knows what he wants from his players,'' the Manchester United midfielder said.
"He has made it very clear that the performance in Sweden wasn't acceptable.
''So maybe that result was a timely reminder of getting back to basics and the manager stamping his authority on the team."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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