SAINTS’ FA Cup winner Jim McCalliog thinks Che Adams’ strong performance against the Three Lions at Wembley has helped Scotland fans take to the player, despite his English connections.

Adams featured from the start as the Tartan Army secured a dramatic late 3-2 comeback victory over World Cup qualifying Group F rivals Israel on Saturday, to put them in the driving seat for a playoff spot.

It was Scott McTominay’s 94th minute strike that sealed the victory at Hampden Park, but Adams had been forced off the pitch with a muscle injury at 2-2 in the 67th minute, and won’t play a part in Tuesday's clash with Faroe Islands.

The injury concern also means that Adams is a doubt for Saints’ Saturday visit from Leeds United, in what will be a minor blow for manager Ralph Hasenhuttl if so.

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Leicester-born Adams only committed his international allegiance to Scotland in March of this year, and has made 11 appearances and hit two goals since – having represented England during the under-20 group.

But despite this, McCalliog, who laid on the ball for Bobby Stokes to secure Saints’ historic 1976 FA Cup final victory over Manchester United, thinks his European Championship performance against his birth-nation helped win supporters over.

Daily Echo: Jim McCalliog and Saints celebrate the 1976 FA Cup win (Pic: PA)Jim McCalliog and Saints celebrate the 1976 FA Cup win (Pic: PA) (Image: Newsquest)

McCalliog told the Daily Echo: “I think they are behind him because he played very well against England at Wembley.

“I watched the game,” with Scotland sneaking a 0-0 draw at the home of English football, adding: “I thought England were going to win the Euros. I had a wee fancy for England to win it. But of course sadly they lost in the final.

“I was also thinking back to 66, because when England won the World Cup, it was the biggest boost the game got. So that would’ve boosted the game even more so.

“They’re great fans (Scotland). They did that every year through the 60s and 70s, and the 50s. That’s the way it was back then.

Daily Echo: Scotland fans took over London for the day during their European Championship visit (Pic: PA)Scotland fans took over London for the day during their European Championship visit (Pic: PA)

“They would save up their money for two years and go down and blow it all in London and Wembley. They would hire limousines and just thoroughly enjoy themselves for the weekend. And then save again for another two years.”

McCalliog knows about putting in good performances against England at Wembley, after he scored the winner in a 3-2 victory over the World Cup holders in their own back yard, 1967 – one of his five caps for the Scots.

The current Saints forward will be hard-pressed to repeat the task, given that they've only managed one win over England in the last 12 meetings - a hollow 1-0 victory courtesy of Don Hutchinson in a 2-1 aggregate EURO playoff defeat (1999).

On Adams’ inclusion in Scotland’s squad, he said: “That’s good, because the way I look at it, if we can get Premier League players from England into the Scotland squad, that will help and improve the squad.

Daily Echo: Che Adams scored his first Scotland goal in World Cup qualifying vs Faroe Islands (Pic: PA)Che Adams scored his first Scotland goal in World Cup qualifying vs Faroe Islands (Pic: PA)

“But you always need heroes and if you get a goalscorer, he’s always a hero, like Mick (Channon) was at Southampton and Ossie (Peter Osgood) was at Chelsea.

“When you look at teams that have been successful, they’ve always had somebody that could score the goals.”