He said “Of course, there’s a door open for them, I don’t think that door is ever shut, no matter how late you come to form in your career.
“I say to Bainy and Greg all the time they need to be selfish and be the best person they can be.
“I see no reason why, if they keep on producing the goods, Mr Strachan won’t be watching.
“They could well be knocking on the door one day soon.”
“Bainy has been terrific,” said Thomson.
“I know the goalies — Craig Gordon, Allan McGregor and Marsh (David Marshall) — are of a certain age but Bain is the next generation.
“Bainy has a great opportunity. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of many other top, young Scottish goalies better than him.”
“The biggest compliment I could give Bainy is he reminds me of a young McGregor,” he said.
“If he has half the career Allan has had, he can be proud. Allan is the best goalie I have played with.”
He added: “When I look at Bainy, I see the same kind of agile keeper.
“Neither of them are big goalies but both are right nimble with their feet.
“If you put the two of them in a five-a-side team, they could fit right in — they are that good on the ball.”