Scotland defender Andy Robertson is the lone survivor from the side that opened the World Cup qualifying campaign just 12 months ago and the Liverpool player is confident the new-look side can complete a remarkable turnaround by reaching the play-offs.
Monday’s 2-0 home win against Malta means the Scots will be guaranteed second place in their group if they win next month’s double-header against Slovakia and Slovenia, at which point Gordon Strachan’s men must hope they are one of the eight best-placed runners-up from the nine qualifying groups.
Hopes of reaching next summer’s finals in Russia had appeared slim after Scotland took just four points from their opening four games, with 3-0 losses against Slovakia and England after a 1-1 home draw against Lithuania.
A late 1-0 victory against Slovenia at Hampden Park in March breathed new life into the campaign however, with that result starting an unbeaten sequence of three victories from the last four matches.
The upturn in form has coincided with Strachan drastically shaking up his side, to the extent that left back Robertson was the only player that lined up against the Maltese on Monday who started in the opening group match, which the Scots won 5-1 against the same opponents in Ta’ Qali last September.
Robertson is optimistic Scotland can complete their rise from the depths of despair ahead of the next game against Slovakia at Hampden Park on October 5.
The 23-year-old said: “We believe can win these games and it’s in our hands. Slovakia will be thinking the same. If they win their last two games they will be there.
“We are still in it and now Slovakia at home is going to be absolutely massive. I’m sure Hampden will be a sellout and there will be a great atmosphere. The players will be up for it.
“Slovakia have a point more than us but we will be looking to turn them over at Hampden. After what happened out there we feel we probably owe them one.”
Robertson, who joined Liverpool from Hull City this summer for £8million, added: “It’s not really a situation most people thought we’d be in at this stage.
“If most supporters or journalists had been asked after the first Lithuania game they would have said it was just typical Scotland.
“Winning breeds confidence. We know how big the Slovenia game was because if we didn’t get three points we were out of it.
“Luckily Chris Martin got the late goal and the supporters started to believe again.
“England was a good performance and these two games have been spot on. We’ve not conceded a goal, produced two good performances and taken six points.”