Gordon Strachan says he and the Scotland coaching staff wonder why Ikechi Anya is playing at Watford instead of in the Premier League.

The 26-year-old netted a stunning solo goal against Germany on Sunday evening but the Scots were still beaten 2-1 by the reigning World Cup winners in their Euro 2016 qualifier.

While Anya has yet to show his best form in a Hornets shirt this season, he continues to impress when selected for Scotland.

And Strachan believes the winger is more than capable of playing in England’s top flight or for Scottish giants Celtic, who the Daily Mail state were interested in Anya earlier this summer.

“The coaching staff scratch our heads at times and wonder why he is not playing in the English Premier League,” Strachan told the Daily Mail.

“It’s not mugs he’s playing against here - it’s Germany, Croatia, Belgium and England. The Macedonians were no mugs either and he scored against them, too.

“There is no doubt about it. He could go to a Celtic or to a club in the English Premier League no bother.

“He can play different positions, too, which makes him even more valuable. He can play on the left as he did against Germany, he can play on the right side, he can even play left-back. He has not got a problem with any of them.”

Anya’s route to Watford was very different to many professional footballers.

He started his career at Wycombe Wanderers, where he broke into the side at the age of 16, in 2004 and was highly thought of at the club but then a knee injury stunted his development and he was released by the Chairboys.

He had the option to join Northampton Town in the summer of 2007 but was still struggling with the injury and decided to join Oxford City.

A spell at Halesowen Town followed before a recommendation from former Wycombe Wanderers boss John Gorman secured him a trial with the Glenn Hoddle Academy.

He moved over to Spain as part of the development programme and then played for Sevilla and Celta Vigo's reserve sides before earning a move to Granada in 2011. He then joined the Hornets in 2013.

Strachan says that Anya’s love for football is refreshing and believes the difficulties he suffered at the start his career have helped him become the player he is.

He explained: “I think he’s worked so hard to get to where he is right now that he doesn’t want to lose it.

“His personality is really infectious. Every morning myself and the staff are the first ones up for breakfast. We make sure of it. Sometimes we are even there before breakfast opens up.

“But every morning Ikechi is the first player through those doors. Always. Never fails.

“He looks like he’s a guy who can’t wait to get out of his bed in the morning, to go training and to meet people. Other ones trawl in at different times but his personality is: “Right, I want to make the most of what I’ve got”.

“Maybe it’s because he came into professional football so late on in life. You have to take a few knocks in life to appreciate what you’ve got and that might be the case.”