David Marshall says his career shows how difficult it is to secure a starting spot as Scotland's number one goalkeeper.

The 31-year-old is now Gordon Strachan's first choice shot-stoppers, fending off competition from Allan McGregor and Craig Gordon.

All three keepers have enjoyed stints as Scotland's number one, but for the moment Marshall is considered the country's best goalie ahead of the World Cup qualification campaign later this year.

First, however, Scotland will face Italy and France in friendlies with youngsters Scott Fox and Jack Hamilton pulled into the goalkeeper ranks along with Marshall for the fixtures.

Marshall had some words of advice for the two young keepers, highlighting how long it had taken him to nail down a place in the national team set up.

"[The competition] is always really high," he said. "Me and Craig [Gordon] and Allan [McGregor] have been here for a long time, but Scott Fox has come in and Jack has come in to join us this week as well.

"The standard just to get in the squad is really high because to get in the team you need to be playing at a really high level."

"We're a bit older now so to see the lads coming through, it's got to happen because in the next few years there will be a lot of changes.

"It's taken me a long time to play a lot of games, that's just the standard of the competition at this level.

"I think they've got a good grounding here, Jim Stewart has worked as the goalkeeper coach for years, he's got a good understanding with Jim Leighton.

"I passed through Jim Leighton and into the national team and now these lads are doing the same.

"I think everyone knows what you have to do and the standard you have to get to."