Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher says that managerial stability is crucial to the national side's hopes of reaching the finals of a major tournament.

The 32-year-old is set to win an impressive 75th cap for his country when Scotland square up against Lithuania in Group F in the second bill of fixtures of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

And the four-time English Premier League winner believes that the side are in a good place after a period of sustained solidity under Gordon Strachan.

Speaking to the media Fletcher said: "It's great to have the continuity with the manager over a number of campaigns now.

"I think it's something that we've lacked in the past; either a manager has gone on and done well and been taken by a club or they've not done so well and they've lost their job.

"We've never really had consistency with Scotland and I can see that in and around the squad.

"We know the style of play, everyone knows what the manager expects and after the disappointment of not qualifying we've tried to add one or two little things that will help us qualify this time.

"Although [mainly] tactical, it has been the young players that have been brought into the squad who have given it a breath of fresh air.

"So we've got a great balance of experience and youth and everyone's singing off the same hymn sheet and that will help us going forward.

Fletcher's home debut for Scotland came against Lithuania in 2003, where the then teenager entered the fray from the bench to score a 70th minute winner.

Fletcher has gone on to enjoy a decorated career, and the former Manchester United star believes that his role has now changed so that the next generation of Scotland stars can flourish, as he did, on the international stage.

"It's [on] us to let them go and be themselves," Fletcher said. "Let the older players and the management and the staff take all the pressure and give them a platform to go and express themselves, enjoy themselves and be themselves to show everyone what good players they are.

"We'll be telling whoever is selected to go and enjoy themselves, go out and play their game and go and make a mark for themselves and hopefully one of them can go and do what I did.