Scotland boss Gordon Strachan hopes his side can reignite their World Cup qualifying campaign with a morale-boosting victory over England at Wembley on Friday.

The Scots are currently fourth in qualifying Group F after picking up four points from their opening three matches, but their only victory in the campaign to date was a 5-1 triumph over bottom of the table Malta in September.

Strachan’s men could however move level on points with top of the table England if they secure a victory over the ‘Auld Enemy’ on Friday, and the former Celtic boss believes the match gives his side the perfect opportunity to reignite their hopes of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.

“We’ve not been too pleased with the last two performances,” Strachan said. “Any game we’ve played after the last two, we are desperate to catch up and make up ground.

“This game is a chance to catch up. It’s a chance to feel better about myself. Over the past few years I haven’t felt decent about myself.

It’s getting back to that level of feeling good about yourself.” Scotland have a poor recent record in the fixture, winning just one of the last nine meetings between the two sides, but Strachan believes he has the right kind of characters in his squad to cause an upset.

He added: “I have got a lot of good characters about the place – don’t worry about that. My players are intelligent enough to understand the fixture.

The importance of the game is understood.” The Tartan Army are available at 9.50 to win the match, while England are priced at 1.40 and the draw is on offer at 4.50.