Monday 3 October 2016 17:44, UK
Archie Gemmill says Sam Allardyce's exit makes England stronger and wants Scotland to target second place in their World Cup qualifying group.
Gordon Strachan's side won their opening qualifier 5-1 in Malta and face Lithuania and Slovakia before next month's trip to Wembley.
England's qualifying campaign was thrown into chaos after just one game when Allardyce was replaced by Gareth Southgate after the former Sunderland boss agreed with the Football Association that comments he made to undercover Daily Telegraph reporters had left his position "untenable".
However, former Scotland midfielder Gemmill said: "I think that will possibly make England stronger. I think Scotland should look at it as a group minus England.
"The two games against England are obviously going to be absolutely massive, but if Scotland can concentrate on picking up the points against Lithuania, Slovakia, Malta and take it as that, if they win the group minus England, they are going to be in a play-off for the World Cup.
"It's a hard group and Slovakia will not be easy in any way, shape or form. So if you can get second position, everybody would be delighted. If everything goes particularly well and you finish first, absolutely delighted."
Southgate has been promoted from his role with England U21s for at least three qualifiers, with England taking on Malta and Slovenia this month.
"It's fresh management once again," said Gemmill. "Gareth has been with the England set-up for quite a few years, he has had a stint at Middlesbrough as a manager. So he'll know a large percentage of the players.
"It's someone who is a bit younger and possibly a bit fresher and might have some different ideas. I think it might help them."
While Gemmill thinks it is unlikely Scotland will top the group, he sees no reason why they cannot emulate his appearance at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina and reach a major tournament, pointing to the fact that Wales and Northern Ireland qualified for Euro 2016.
"Wales got there, Northern Ireland got there," he said. "No disrespect to those two countries, Scotland should be able to get to a finals. This group is going to be difficult but I would expect Scotland to be in a position where they could qualify.
"Gordon's got a squad that has experience and youth in it as well. The average [age] is 24-25 so they are there for the next five to six years. If they can all keep improving, and luck comes into it an awful lot in life, not just football. So if they can get the breaks at the right time, Scotland will be more than useful."
Strachan has already denied suggestions that Saturday's Hampden clash with Lithuania is a "must-win" game and Gemmill backed the manager.
"I've been in the game quite a long time and I've heard this must-win, must-win," Gemmill said. "There's so many things that happen in a campaign. Scotland could get beaten and all of a sudden they might still qualify.
"It's not a must-win because that puts extra pressure on everybody concerned. It's a game that Scotland should win but you just never know what's going to happen."
Watch Scotland v Lithuania, live on Sky Sports 2 HD, on Saturday, October 8 from 7pm.
