Levein relishes chance to cast eye over free-scoring Rhodes

Manager Craig Levein is looking for hitman Jordan Rhodes to bring goals to Scotland in tonight’s friendly against Australia at Easter Road.

The Scotland boss confirmed that the 22-year-old Huddersfield striker would lead his line after QPR forward Jamie Mackie pulled out through injury, and in the absence of Craig Mackail-Smith and Kenny Miller, Rhodes, whose only Scotland appearance so far was as a late substitute against Cyprus in November, gets his chance. He scored 40 goals for his club last season. He also netted eight goals for the Scotland under-21s which has encouraged Levein ahead of the final warm-up game before the 2014 World Cup qualifiers begin next month with a double-header at Hampden against Serbia and Macedonia.

Levein said: “I had the idea that Jamie Mackie will play but obviously he has a calf strain so Jordan will play.