Right Rhodes: Jordan reminds fans of Big Joe with goal against Australia

JORDAN RHODES' performance was reminiscent of Joe Jordan as he took to senior international football with relative ease.

JORDAN scores for Scotland with a brave diving header. And this one even has his own front teeth.

For a flashing moment, this could have been 1974, 1978 or 1982 as the Tartan Army rose to acclaim the name. But this wasn’t big Joe.

With his suntan, well-groomed hair and polished Colgate smile, Jordan Rhodes couldn’t look any less like big Joe.

Well, until Danny Fox’s inswinging 28th-minute cross, that is.

Stay behind the centre-back until the ball is delivered, check.

Dart across his front when it starts winging towards the danger area, check.

Throw yourself into a perfect position to glance a textbook header into the net, check.

It was all there and this was the moment when the new Jordan gave us all a glorious look at a bright and brilliant future.

In his pomp, Joe played a pivotal role in taking Willie Ormond to the World Cup in 1974, he did the same for Ally MacLeod four years later and for Jock Stein in 1982.

If that wasn’t enough, he also chipped in with goals when he got to Germany, Argentina and Spain and featured on the ultimate stage.

Wouldn’t it just be a dream if our new Jordan could do the same for Craig Levein and Brazil in 2014? That, of course, is miles off and it would be absolutely preposterous for anyone to place such a weight of expectation on to the shoulders of any youngster who was making just his first senior start for his country.

But, by God, it’s still good to dream, eh?

Sir Alex Ferguson used his interview in the match programme to describe the stand-off between Levein and Steven Fletcher as a “shame”.

He said: “If Craig could get a really top-class central defender and a quality striker to go with what he already has, it would make a big difference.

“It would bring more balance to a squad where the midfield is so strong. That’s why it’s a shame that Craig and Steven Fletcher haven’t been able to reach a compromise.”

But last night Levein wasn’t looking to the past.

With a recall for Wolves’ £12million striker looking as far away as ever just three weeks ahead of the World Cup 2014 qualification opener against Serbia, he wanted his first genuine look at the future. He got it all right.

In fact, the goal was so good that Fletcher, in a massive twist of irony, tweeted: “Great finish from Rhodes.”

It was like the passing of a baton and a moment for the punters to cling on to as we get ready for the Road to Brazil.

Not that there were millions in place to see it in the flesh. It was clear that the majority of the Tartan Army couldn’t give a XXXX for a non-competitive match.

Ironically, there was a banner behind the goal in the Famous Five Stand to proclaim The Spartan Army. They certainly got that right.

As the rain thundered down on the players 40 minutes before kick-off during their warm-up, there was barely an occupied seat within Easter Road.

By the time it started there were a few more but it was little more than 11,000 and swathes of green bucket seats could be seen all around the ground.

Not a sight to inspire the troops, but it was up to those in dark blue to provide excitement.

To that end, the Scots did their bit all night and all eyes were fixed on Rhodes.

The kid with the magic touch, the kid who blasted 40 goals for Huddersfield last season and eight more for the Under-21s.

Just the type of prolific and consistent scoring we need and, from the outset, he looked busy, bustling and bright.

He was inches away from an Alan Hutton centre then he almost flicked home a James Morrison cross before heading another Hutton delivery just wide.

In the penalty box, in where it hurts. In where you need to be. Just like big Joe.

As he settled in, it looked worrying. Allan McGregor hirpled off, Morrison did the same after crashing into an advertising board while sending in the centre for Rhodes and Aussie ace Mark Bresciano was making a nuisance of himself by scoring one of the best goals seen at Easter Road.

Into the goal directly under the Famous Five Stand, it was a strike which Lawrie Reilly would have been happy to claim.

It was against the run of play, but, in fairness, the Aussies had been denied a clear goal or at least a Fox red card for handball when Norwegian ref Tom Hagen was … well, no one really knows what he was doing.

But then Fox took advantage by haring down the left flank to produce a cross which must have looked to Rhodes like a five-course lunch looks to Jo Brand.

It was devoured with the same type of relish. Levein and the Tartan Army enjoyed the taster.

Aussie defender Jason Davidson’s header after the restart wasn’t nearly as good but it did come with the caveat of being into his own net and with sub Ross McCormack making his own statement with a cracking third, Levein got a win which he and his team thoroughly deserved.

With Fox producing two assists, Steven Naismith returning to the set-up after a lengthy injury and a host a first-choice players still to come back for Serbia, it was a magic night for the manager.

Even the sound of ex-Hearts star Ian Black getting booed by a section of the crowd when he touched the ball after his late sub appearance couldn’t take the shine off it.

Rhodes was, by far, the biggest bonus. Big Joe, no doubt, also had a big gap-toothed grin in front of his telly.

Taken from the Daily Record