Maloney In Confident Mood

Photo by Jeff Holmes

Shaun Maloney is going into Scotland's clash with Georgia as confident as he has been in his international career as he looks to make amends for one of his biggest international disappointments.

Maloney was in the Scotland team that lost 2-0 in Tbilisi in September 2007 after securing four consecutive European Championship qualifying wins, the last two against France and Ukraine.

Scotland just missed out on Euro 2008 following a late defeat by Italy the following month and Friday's game in Georgia is just as important.

Gordon Strachan's side sit in third place behind Poland and Germany and victory on Friday would set them up for Hampden clashes against the top two sides - and help wipe out memories of that disappointment under Alex McLeish.

"It's one of the games that stands out," Maloney said.

"We played some brilliant matches against France and that match in Georgia was very disappointing.

"It's an experience that all players have had in their career, being part of a team that was so close to qualifying.

"But somewhere deep down you learn from these experiences and I'm very hopeful that this week's experience is going to be very different.

"That's the plan. We played very well against Georgia in the first game in the group, particularly in the first half. In the second we saw Georgia are a good team. I know their points total hasn't been what they deserved or what they hoped for but it will be a difficult match, as any away game in international football is."

Scotland have drawn in Warsaw and Dublin in this campaign and Maloney has been at the heart of their improvement - scoring winners against Georgia and the Republic of Ireland and an equaliser in Dublin.

And the new Hull playmaker believes Gordon Strachan's management and the atmosphere within the squad has given him the impetus to take his national team career forward.

"The way we play has given the forward players a bit more confidence," the 32-year-old said.

"We are trying to keep the ball and be better in possession than we have done in numerous years before.

"From my point of view, when I look at the squad that's what gives me motivation in training. The manager has shown he will select players on how they do in training. The squad is very competitive and if you're not quite at it, there's a good chance you won't be involved."

Maloney, who moved from Chicago Fire to Hull last week, added: "There's a certain amount of freedom but we just work very hard. Everyone knows their job, we are coached all week, training is very hard and intense and I think that's probably where the confidence comes from."