Warburton backs under-pressure Scotland boss Gordon Strachan

Rangers boss Mark Warburton has given his backing to Gordon Strachan - insisting sacking the Scotland boss would do nothing to solve the nation's footballing woes.

Strachan is facing serious question marks about his Hampden future after Tuesday night's damaging 3-0 defeat to Slovakia.

The result leaves the Scot's World Cup hopes hanging by a thread just three games into the Russia 2018 qualifiers.

But Warburton - who has himself faced flak this term after Gers' troubled start to the season - defended the former Celtic manager.

He claims Scotland's youngsters need to be tested more during their development if the national team is to eventually flourish.

The Englishman, who again refused to answer questions on Joey Barton's Ibrox future at his weekly press conference, said: "We need to look at far deeper issues.

"You need to offer a quality of challenge to a young player that they are not currently being faced with.

"I look at the national team and read the papers today. I see a very experienced manager, a very experienced coach.

"His credentials are there for all to see, so it's not about changing managers - it's about looking at the bigger picture.

"There is a lot of young talent in Scotland. We need to give them a chance to be the best we can be.''

One of Warburton's previous jobs before taking over at Rangers saw him set up the NextGen series - a tournament which went on to become the UEFA Youth League.

Celtic are the only Scottish side currently taking part in that competition and Warburton fears that unless more of our prospects are forced to go up against the best Europe can offer then the national team will toil.

He said: "The young players down south get the opportunity to test themselves.

"They have the tournaments, the prestige games that matter. They are put into pressure situations time after time to prepare themselves for the transition to the first team.

"I don't think the Scottish players are being given the same opportunity.

"A lot of that is down to money, as it always does in football. But we need to look at the bigger picture.

"Don't tell me there is no young talent coming through in Scotland. I'm not having that at all. But we do have to help them.''

Lee Wallace and Barrie McKay were Rangers' only representatives in Strachan's squad for Saturday's disappointing draw with Lithuania and the Slovakia loss.

Neither featured, with McKay spared the trip to Trnava after being told he would not be involved. But Warburton did not see that as a slight on the left winger.

He said: "Lee is 28, Barry is 21. They were both away with their national squad and the fact they are involved is all credit to them. It's an honour and a privilege for them.

"The right decision is made that if they are not going to play, they are sent back to train with their clubs. It was a late return but they will be fine for Inverness this weekend.''

Gers will make their first visit to the Highland capital in four and a half years when they face an improving Caley Thistle line-up on Friday.

Celtic await in the Betfred Cup semi-final a week on Sunday but Warburton's focus is firmly set on Richie Foran's men.

"Inverness are a side we have a lot of respect for,'' said the Light Blues boss. "They can pose a lot of problems, they have a lot of quality.

"But we're looking forward to it. Hopefully we can deliver the performance that gets us the three points.

"Our focus has got to be one game at a time. There's no point worrying about Celtic if we get beat at Inverness.

"Once the final whistle goes, then we will look at Celtic.''

• 2014