MORE than ever before, football is seen as a squad game. In an age when physical capacity takes precedence over skill, team rotation and tactical reshuffling are becoming commonplace in a rising number of dressing rooms.

The 22 players selected by Craig Brown for France are no doubt delighted to be part of that squad, aware that nowadays the squad unit is as important to a team's success than merely the starting 11.

It wasn't always like that, however. Although he was honoured to have been part of the Scotland squad in World Cup '74, the former Coventry box of tricks, Tommy Hutchison, admitted that being left out of the starting line-up for the finals matches, after playing - and playing well - in most of the warm-up matches, was hard for him to accept.

''For a long time that bothered me,'' he said, taking time out from his busy schedule as football coach to the youngsters in Wales. ''I was very disappointed at missing out of the starting 11 and I even remember having a dig at Denis Law at the training session before the Zaire match.

''Guys like him were big personalities with big clubs and knew they would be in the team. I had to work very hard in training just to be noticed because I played for an unfashionable team like Coventry.''

He was used as a substitute for both the opener and the Yugoslavia match, playing ''reasonably well'' in both.

Only now it has dawned on him how lucky he actually was to have been involved. ''When you see that people like Ian Rush and Mark Hughes will never play in a World Cup then it strikes home.''

Hutchison's career began at Alloa, after an unsuccessful trial with Oldham, who recognised his skill but thought he lacked stamina. A move to Blackpool followed, under the leadership of their legendary forward, Stan Mortinson.

After five great years there he moved to Coventry, where his international career blossomed, even though much of his eight years there were spent staving off relegation.

Then, at the age of 35, he enjoyed a successful spell at Manchester City before heading to Wales to play for Swansea, where he made his European debut, against Greek side Pan-athanaikos, at 41 years of age. Indeed, it wasn't until the grand old age (in football terms) of 43 that he hung up his boots, when both coaching and playing ''started taking its toll.''

Now still in Swansea, Hutchison is employed by both the Welsh FA and the Vale of Glamorgan Council to teach football to kids of all abilities and ages.

The 51-year-old has his own school development course and holds fun days, special needs classes, and also coaches the national under-14 side, with enjoyment the key factor in his coaching methods.

''When I work for the FA it deals with excellence, whereas with the council it's mass participation but enjoyment is important. The reason I played until I was 43 was because I enjoyed it.''

His busy schedule means he will be unable to take in much of Scotland's World Cup campaign.