Neilson handed chance to stake claim at Scottish cap

HEARTS defender Robbie Neilson has been handed the opportunity to claim a place in the Scotland squad for the European Championship qualifying campaign which begins next month.

Neilson is the only uncapped outfield player named in a 30-man party by Scotland manager Walter Smith yesterday for an international gathering in St Andrews on 14 and 15 August.

Smith has chosen to hold the two-day training camp in Fife rather than undertake a friendly international fixture that week as he finalises his preparations for Scotland's first two Euro 2008 Group B qualifying matches against the Faroe Islands at Parkhead on 2 September and Lithuania in Kaunas four days later.

Neilson, previously capped at under-21 and B level for Scotland, is one of six Hearts players in the squad as the 26-year-old is rewarded for his consistency in the right-back position for the Tynecastle club. He joins Craig Gordon, Steven Pressley, Andy Webster, Paul Hartley and Neil McCann in a strong representation for Hearts, although Webster's departure from Tynecastle remains imminent.

While Scotland are not short of options at right-back in a squad which also includes Jackie McNamara of Wolves, Preston's Graham Alexander and Reading captain Graeme Murty, Neilson's credentials for the position have been recognised by the Scotland manager.

Motherwell goalkeeper Graeme Smith, who was an unused substitute in the Scotland squad which won the Kirin Cup tournament in Japan three months ago, is the only other uncapped player included.

"We have a reasonably settled group of players, but it is important for everyone to realise that there are still opportunities for other players to get into the squad," said manager Smith yesterday. "This by no means closes the door to anyone else.

"I hope that all the players will be able to come to the gathering. I plan to go over our games so far, as well as looking at the games ahead, to see how we can make progress in the campaign.

"While there is a serious side to the gathering, I hope it will also be an enjoyable experience for the group. The team spirit is excellent and gatherings like this can only help to improve that."

Barry Ferguson, the Rangers and Scotland captain, is named in the squad although he will be unable to play a full part in the training sessions as he attempts to recover from the heel injury which may yet threaten his prospects of leading the country for the first two qualifiers.

His Ibrox team-mates Kris Boyd and Chris Burke, who both scored twice on their debuts for Scotland in the 5-1 defeat of Bulgaria in the Kirin Cup, retain their places, while there is a recall for former Hibs striker Garry O'Connor who missed the trip to Japan because of club commitments with Lokomotiv Moscow.

In suffering only three defeats in the 12 matches he has overseen so far, Smith has succeeded in restoring stability and credibility to Scotland who last month climbed 18 places to No 41 in the FIFA world rankings, their highest position in five years.

Following the two-day training stint, Smith will travel to Toftir to see the Faroe Islands take on Georgia in Euro 2008 Group B's opening fixture on 16 August. Scotland will look to make a flying start to a daunting qualifying section which also includes World Cup winners Italy, runners-up France, and Ukraine.

Taken from the Scotsman