Tommy Wright has full faith in Gordon Strachan not to rush his star striker Stevie May into the full Scotland squad before he is ready.
Strachan was questioned at the weekend about a possible promotion for the St Johnstone frontman on the back of his form for the Perth side and the under-21s.
May’s club manager is confident the national coach will not push the 20-year-old, who Wright believes is still a work in progress, too soon.
He said: “Stevie is playing really well, he’s improving all the time and his all-round game is coming along. We have been working to improve his link-up play and bringing people into the game.
“He’s worked hard and it’s paying off so I’m delighted with him. Stevie knows he’s got to keep improving and putting that effort in to get better. He’s made every step up that has been put in front of him and for me he can go to the very top.
“He scored one goal for the under-21s and people were trying to push him for the full squad last weekend. Gordon Strachan will know when Stevie’s ready and I’ll know when he’s ready. Gordon and Billy Stark will do the best thing for Stevie and for Scotland.
“If and when he thinks he’s good enough and ready for it he’ll pick him, but he won’t rush him. He might bring him in to a few squads, who knows? But he will do the best thing for Scotland and for Stevie.
“Hopefully that day will come because he’s got the talent to go to the very top. But we have to be careful not to over-hype him.”
Wright is mindful that strikers have to endure goal droughts. If and when one comes in the Premiership for May, that will be a new challenge.
He said: “We’re nine games into the league season, he’s done very well but he has to keep that up. I’m not being negative because I think he will do well, he’s well on target to hit the 15 goals I said he was capable of getting.
“He’s in a real purple patch at the moment but that might not last and it will be how he copes with that.”