A fourth goal of the season, another clean sheet and a real Captain’s performance from Lee Wallace sent a reminder to Gordon Strachan that he is in spectacular form this season and deserves to be part to the national team set-up. The 28-year-old has 8 caps to his name since making his debut for Scotland in 2009 for then manager George Burley, his international career perhaps suffering due to the lack of respect given to the Rangers players who remained loyal to the club following relegation.
Players such as Lee McCulloch and Lee Wallace were playing as well as any other Scotsman yet they where constantly over looked in favour of players from a higher division but not necessarily of a higher standard. Lee Wallace has this season put in performances that are forcing people to take notice, especially considering the fact Scotland are crying out for a specialist left back with qualification for the European Championships at stake.
Lee Wallace was the player chosen by Mark Warburton to lead the Light Blues out every week as the club embarked on their Championship campaign under a new manager with an overhauled playing staff. Now ten games in and ten victories under their belt the team are following their Captain’s example and giving their all. With long-term leader Lee McCulloch no longer in the dressing room, Warburton did not have an abundance of readily available replacements that stood out as leaders.
However next to McCulloch fewer players have demonstrated their commitment to the club in the same manner as Lee Wallace, choosing to stay and fight through the divisions when perhaps more attractive opportunities to leave were offered. Now at twenty-eight years old, with over one hundred appearances for Rangers Lee Wallace has the experience and respect of the fans to be the man to lead the players.
The level of performance shown by Lee Wallace was again there for all to see against Livingston, as the full back contributed another goal to capitalise on Rangers first half dominance and made a significant contribution in defence keeping Livingston out as the Light Blues recorded their second consecutive clean sheet.
This has been a continuing theme for the season so far as the Rangers full back pairing of Tavernier and Wallace have been too much for the Championship opposition to handle, with the pair combined into double figures when it comes to goals for the season.
Lee Wallace is a modern-day left back who is up and down the flank as much as any winger, making unselfish runs creating space for the midfielders but remaining resolute in his defensive duties considering the fact Rangers have only conceded three goals in the opening six Championship fixtures.
With Scotland having an important fixture to come against Poland, surely Gordon Strachan must pick Lee Wallace. A player who is strong in defence, reliable in attack, experienced and perhaps most importantly in form getting regular playing time. The Rangers captain is a more suitable selection at left back than either Andrew Robertson or Charlie Mulgrew and with a place at the European Championship finals at stake surely Lee Wallace deserves to get back into the Scottish jersey.
