FORMER Scotland boss Alex McLeish says "huge talent" Ryan Fraser has the ability to resuscitate Scotland's ailing national team.

Cherries winger Fraser is racing against time to be fit for the Scots' critical World Cup qualifying clash with Slovenia tomorrow night.

And after watching Gordon Strachan's team labour to a 1-1 draw with Canada on Wednesday – a match Fraser missed with a knee injury -–McLeish is convinced the stage is set for the 23-year-old flyer to lift his country out of the doldrums.

He told the Daily Echo: "I have no doubt Ryan can be the man to inject some life into this Scotland side.

"He has taken his game by the scruff of the neck this season and imposed himself on his opponents.

"You do not want a wide man to just be defending all the time. You expect them to take the attack to the opposition and Ryan has really done that this season.

"He has been fantastic and I am so proud to see a fellow Scotsman doing what he has done."

A legend at Aberdeen, where as a player he won 12 major honours – including the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup – McLeish was in charge of Birmingham City when Fraser made his breakthrough at Pittodrie in 2010.

"We always kept an eye on the good, young Scottish players," said McLeish.

"Ryan was on the databases of most of the teams in England, because of the progress he had made at Aberdeen.

"We were very aware he was around and it was only ever going to be a matter of time before an English team took a punt on him.

"He has belief in himself now and that is why he has progressed so much this year.

"Football at the highest level is about mentality as well as ability and Ryan has shown a strong mentality throughout his development.

"He has always had the quality needed to succeed – and sometimes you can expect too much from a young player. They have to be allowed to develop and make mistakes.

"Ryan has done that and he has taken his game to another level this season."

McLeish bossed Scotland in 2007, most notably leading the Tartan Army to a sensational 1-0 European Championship qualifying victory in France.

Asked if he would select Fraser if he were in charge this weekend, McLeish was unequivocal – albeit he sounded one note of caution.

“I would pick him," added the 58-year-old. "He must be bursting to get his first Scotland cap but he should not take any chances if he is still feeling his injury.

“If he is not one hundred per cent then people will make unfair, premature judgments on him. My advice would be ‘only play if you are one hundred per cent fit’.”