Naismith Gunning For Goals

Photo by Jeff Holmes Forward Steven Naismith says Scotland will go straight for Georgia's jugular at Ibrox on Saturday. The Scots performed heroically as they went down 2-1 to world champions Germany in their opening Euro 2016 qualifier. The highlight for the Tartan Army in Dortmund was Ikechi Anya's stunning solo strike, but just as impressive was the staunch rearguard action which kept their side in the game during a first-half onslaught. Group D rivals the Republic of Ireland have already stolen a march on the Dark Blues by beating the Georgians in Tblisi, and Naismith knows the Scots risk being left behind if they do not pick up three points this weekend. The Everton frontman, however, believes Gordon Strachan will send his team out with a cavalier attitude in an attempt to kick-start their qualifying bid. Speaking as he helped introduce the Scottish FA's new nominated charity Dyslexia Scotland, Naismith said: "I think we will be more positive. Playing with two strikers doesn't necessarily mean you are being more positive but the manager will have a system in mind. He has vary rarely got it wrong since he took over. "But one thing for sure is that we will be more attacking than we were in Germany. We will need to be. "Being at home you want to get the crowd behind you, dictate the tempo and play an advanced game that creates chances. So that has to be our main aim from the kick-off." Naismith could hardly be in better form ahead of Saturday's qualifier, having netted four times in eight games for his Goodison employers this term - including strikes against Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. But the former Rangers and Kilmarnock forward does not believe his red-hot start to the season represents his best ever run of performances. "No I don't think this is my best form ever," he said. "I have played consistently well for a period when I was at Rangers. "I was maybe playing a slightly different role. This is probably the first time I have had a set role in the team as a striker or just off a striker. "That has definitely helped me as I feel most comfortable there." Although he has netted past the likes of Thibaut Courtois, David de Gea and Wojciech Szczesny this term, Naismith does not believe he will find it easy beating Georgian stopper Giorgi Loria. The 28-year-old said: "It's not as simple as that. Every game is different and Georgia will have a different game plan. But I definitely feel I can go up against the best, club or country. "We showed with the Germany game how far we have come. We didn't go into that game hoping to win, we went in believing that we can." Strachan's number two Mark McGhee admitted earlier this week that Steven Fletcher's return to form could have bought him a starting slot against Temuri Ketsbaia's side. The Sunderland striker netted twice in Saturday's 3-1 win over Stoke to end a 10-month goal drought. It is likely the former Hibernian hitman will be paired up front with Naismith and the Toffees forward is happy to resurrect a partnership first formed when the pair were teenagers. "Steven and I have a good relationship," said Naismith. "We came through the Scottish youth teams together playing as two strikers, with me playing a bit deeper off him. "We met in the Under-17s and had Ross McCormack in that team as well, so there has been a past partnership there. It is one that I'm sure would work again. "But I don't know if that is the way the manager is going to go this time. In the past, I've been up front and Shaun Maloney has played off me. "That was the tactic in Macedonia so we do have different combinations. This squad has been together for a while so we are comfortable together with most partnerships. "But Fletch and I are playing pretty well at the moment so that is good for Scotland." Friday's Ibrox training session will be the first time Naismith has returned to the stadium since his controversial Light Blues exit following the club's liquidation crisis. But he is not anxious about the reception he will receive, saying: "I've got some fantastic memories from there and it will be good to go back into some familiar surroundings. "It won't be strange going back into the home dressing room. It will be familiar, which will only help."