The way he drafted Kevin Davies into the England squad - at the expense of Andy Carroll - defies belief.
Davies was asked last week about an England call up and the 33-year old said: "my cances of an England cap are long gone".
Then guess what? Santa came early.
Davies has enjoyed an eventful time of it since he first burst on to the scene as a rookie striker in Chesterfield's staggering run to the FA Cup semi-finals in 1997, without actually being a decent player.
Yeah he can push and shove with the best of them; tug a shirt and dig a defender in the ribs; just like Alan Shearer.
But Shearer had pace, a knack for goals, a football brain, and leadership qualities.
Davies is a 'plodder' .... nothing more, nothing less.
Big-money moves to Southampton and Blackburn and he rarely .
In the season Southampton were to reach the FA Cup final - where they lost to Arsenal - Strachan arranged a practice match; first team against reserves. Davies did not get a game - for either side.
"I was asked to sit in the stands," he recalled.
"That did it for me. I thought, 'If can't get in that side it's not going to be'.
"My contract was running out and I knew I was not going to get another one, so I made the decision to go out on loan."
He went to Millwall, then Sam Allardyce took him to Bolton.
If he plays on Tuesday he would become the oldest England debutant since Leslie Compton in 1950.
Davies: "Opportunities come along and you have got to seize them.
"I don't want to be a footnote. I am quite a calm person but inside I am bursting to win a cap, I would like to think not just one.
"People say when the others are back I may not get back in, but I am here to work hard, make impression and hopefully play well on Tuesday."