I was Scotland's World Cup striker in 1986 - we had a lot of firepower compared to now and still struggled

Not boarding the plane for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico were Maurice Johnston and Brian McClair, whose 49 goals helped Celtic pip Hearts for the title; John Robertson, who weighed in with 25 for the Tynecastle side; and Ally McCoist, who scored 27 for Rangers.

All outstanding players who would go on to have brilliant careers.

None of them made the cut, however, with caretaker boss Alex Ferguson preferring to select mainly those who had made a name for themselves in the top flight in England. Paul Sturrock was the only home-based striker to be included in his squad, with the Dundee United man’s outstanding hold-up play and ability to bring others into the game seen as qualities which could help Scotland escape from a tough group containing West Germany, Denmark and Uruguay.

In Ferguson’s original squad, Sturrock was joined by Charlie Nicholas, who had enjoyed a 18-goal season with Arsenal, Frank McAvennie, 28 goals for West Ham United, Graeme Sharp, whose Everton side narrowly missed out on both the league and FA Cup, and Liverpool’s double-winning player/manager Kenny Dalglish.

When Dalglish withdrew from the squad before the tournament with a knee injury, Dalglish called up Steve Archibald who had just played for Barcelona in the European Cup final.

Different times, as Sharp reflected this week. The great Everton centre-forward was in the midst of a golden run of form in the mid-Eighties, an era that saw the Goodison club twice crowned champions.

He is delighted to see Scotland back on the world stage after a 28-year absence and is full of praise for Steve Clarke but you sense he nurses concerns about the head coach’s striking options in the United States.

“All credit has to go to the manager,” said Sharp who was at Murrayfield to promote the pre-season friendly between Everton and Newcastle United which will be played at the national rugby stadium on August 12. “I know there's a few dissenting voices, but I think the job he's done is fantastic, to get them into the World Cup finals. Hats off to Steve.

“It'll be tough, it's not an easy group, but it never is when Scotland get to the World Cup finals, so we'll just have to wait and see, but fingers crossed we can get through the opening stages.”

Scotland begin their campaign against Haiti, then face Morocco and Brazil. It’s a tough group and the five strikers tasked with firing Scotland through the first phase are Charlton Athletic’s Lyndon Dykes, Torino’s Che Adams, Rangers’ Lawrence Shankland, Southampton’s Ross Stewart and Ipswich Town’s George Hirst.

“If I'm honest, I look at the two squads, and I don't mean this in any way, but I thought our squad going to Mexico 86 was really, really strong,” said Sharp who won a dozen caps and played against Uruguay in the 1986 tournament. “I'm just thinking up front, Charlie Nicholas, Frank McAvennie, Steve Archibald and myself, we had a lot of firepower there, and it never came to fruition at the end but it's something the lads will always remember.

“I think the one thing that will be interesting is how they acclimatise. We found it very difficult in Mexico. Before the ’86 finals, we went to Santa Fe in New Mexico to try and acclimatise, but it doesn't matter how much you do when it comes to a match day, especially when you can't get the ball off the opposition. It's really, really difficult.

“For the lads, you just say, go and enjoy it. It's a fantastic achievement. Of course you want to go on to the next stages. Of course you do, and it would be great to see that happening. It won't be easy, we know that, but it's certainly not beyond them.”

Goals have been hard to come by for Scotland in their two previous major tournaments under Clarke. They scored one at Euro 2020 and two at Euro 2024, none of them by strikers. What does Sharp make of the forwards going to the US?

“Yeah, you don't want to be too detrimental and everything else, but I don't see many of them playing in the English Premier League,” he said. “I'm not saying that's always the one thing you've got to look for, but I think the quality of strikers is difficult.

“I just don't know who Steve prefers, and it's going to be a difficult choice for him, how they play, how they set up. Do they play with one up top on his own? You talk about conditions and everything else, and he's more qualified than myself. But certainly, goal scoring…. I know I watch Everton every week, I know how bad it is for them. Getting an out-and-out goalscorer now, it's a tough, tough job, but listen, whoever they play…. I mentioned Lyndon Dykes before, he's a bit of a strong character, he can get a hold of it. He might be your best bet, but he might have to change things around.

“I don't know what he's going to do, but I'm sure Steve knows in his mind what his first 11 is going to be, and whoever that striker may be, we'll just have to wait and see.”

Forty years ago, goals were also hard to come by, despite the talent in Ferguson’s squad. Scotland opened against Denmark with Nicholas and Sturrock up front but lost 1-0. Both picked up knocks and Steve Archibald ploughed a lone furrow in the next game, against West Germany. Scotland took the lead through Gordon Strachan but lost 2-1 to the eventual finalists. Ferguson changed things again for the final match against Uruguay, and Sharp got his chance, partnering Sturrock in attack in a game Scotland needed to win to qualify.

In the stifling heat of Nezahualcóyotl, a 10-man Uruguay held on for a goalless draw which saw them advance at the expense of the Scots. If the weather was brutal, so too were the South Americans, who had defender José Batista sent off in the first minute for a wild lunge on Strachan.

“That was horrendous, not just for the conditions, but the way they played, and the way they acted,” said Sharp. “Honestly, it's not fit for a family newspaper, but it was horrendous.

“But no, the weather did affect us. Even though we'd done all the work we could do, with Sir Alex taking us over, and working us hard in training, there's nothing like a match day, especially when the opposition are more used to playing in those conditions. We found it extremely difficult.

“That's not to say that was the only reason why we went out. We didn't win any games, so that was the reason, but I don't know what their plans are, in terms of how they're going to acclimatise, but I think it's very, very important. Now, we've moved on so many years, in sports science and everything else, I'm sure they know what they're doing now, and hopefully come the first game, they'll be ready.”

See Premier League rivals Newcastle United and Everton clash at Edinburgh’s iconic Scottish Gas Murrayfield on 12 August. Tickets available now at Ticketmaster.