Stuart McCall focused on Scotland task after Rangers exit

Stuart McCall
McCall took Rangers to the play-off final but could not get them promoted

Stuart McCall will put his managerial career on hold to concentrate on helping Scotland reach Euro 2016.

The 51-year-old returned to Gordon Strachan's coaching team last month after a spell in charge of Rangers.

"Any job out there, and I don't think there are too many at the moment, would probably mean not doing the Scotland gig," he told BBC Scotland.

"I enjoy doing that, so come October hopefully we will have qualified and I want to be part of that."

Strachan recruited then-Motherwell boss McCall shortly after taking the post in January 2013.

However, he missed the March games against Northern Ireland and Gibraltar after he was asked to take over at Ibrox until the end of the season.

He won seven of the 17 games he oversaw as Rangers finished third in the Championship and were beaten by Motherwell in the play-off final.

McCall returned to the international fold for last months's draw in Dublin and soon after Mark Warburton was announced as the Rangers manager on a three-year deal.

"Gordon was fantastic with me when I took the Rangers job, saying regardless of what happens we'd like you back for the game against Ireland," he explained.

"Now I've got an eye on the two double headers coming up for Scotland."

Stuart McCall with Scotland manager Gordon Strachan (left)
McCall says he has learned a lot working with with Scotland manager Gordon Strachan (left)

The Scots travel to Georgia and welcome Germany to Hampden in September, while the campaign finishes in October with Poland in Glasgow and a trip to minnows Gibraltar.

After six fixtures, Scotland sit third in Group D, three points behind leaders Poland and two adrift of World Cup winners Germany.

"It's fantastic to be part of it," said McCall. "We've not done anything yet but we've put ourselves in a good position.

"There's a good feel about the country when it comes to football and it's just an honour to be involved.

"I'll probably do more scouting now. When I first joined up it was a struggle to name a squad because we didn't have enough good players. Now you're struggling to leave players out."

Poland, Germany and Republic of Ireland have all won on their visits to Tbilisi and McCall says it is vital that Scotland do the same.

Scotland's remaining Euro 2016 qualifiers
Georgia (a)4 September
Germany (h)7 September
Poland (h)8 October
Gibraltar (a)11 October

"Georgia away will not be an easy game but we have got to go there and come back with three points," he said.

"We managed to beat them at Ibrox 1-0. We deserved the victory but it was a tight game.

"Since then they have changed the manager. They lost 4-0 in Poland but it was only 1-0 until nearly the last minute."

"If we get three points in Georgia and get beat by Germany, I don't think that means we can't qualify because it will depend on what Germany do against everyone else."

With Scotland bidding to reach a major finals for the first time since the 1998 World Cup, McCall is full of praise for the work Strachan has done.

"I've learned so much from him," said the former Everton and Rangers midfielder, who won 40 caps.

"He's good on the training ground, he has great knowledge of the game and he wants your opinions.

"There's a good harmony in the squad and that goes onto the training pitch and into games - that all starts with Gordon."