Neilson ideal deputy for Dailly in Kiev, says Hartley

PAUL HARTLEY today urged Walter Smith to give Robbie Neilson the nod to face Ukraine, promising the Scotland boss: "He won't let you down."

Scotland will be forced to do without Christian Dailly for Wednesday's Group B clash after his yellow card in the win over France left him with a one-match suspension, while Aberdeen's Russell Anderson is injured.

That could open the door for Neilson - yet to make his Scotland debut - to come in at right-back with Graeme Alexander continuing on the left-back role he filled so well on Saturday.

However, Smith last night also called Hibs defender Steven Whittaker into his squad and he could now be in line for a shock debut. The Easter Road defender, who has played 18 times for the Under-21s, joined up with the squad in time for today's flight to Ukraine after an impressive start to the season in the Hibs defence.

Hartley, though, is confident that Neilson is more than capable of filling the gap on the right and said: "Obviously it is disappointing for Christian that he is suspended for the next game against Ukraine but it just gives someone else, maybe Robbie Neilson, a chance to go in and do a job.

"It's up to the manager who he brings in to replace Christian but I play with Robbie week in week out and I know that if he is asked to play he won't let anyone down."

Expectation levels ahead of the Ukraine match have been raised by the welcome, if unexpected, win over Raymond Domenech's star-studded World Cup finalists.

Hartley believes that Scotland can take a great deal of confidence from Saturday's result but revealed that he has consulted Hearts head coach Valdas Ivanauskas about the hostile reception they can expect in Ukraine, adding: "I have spoken to Valdas about playing in Ukraine and he says that there might be between 50,000 to 80,000 people in the stadium so we know it is going to be really intimidating.

"But we have played well away from home in the past so we hope to go there and get the right result. There is great belief in the squad we know it is going to be a different game again on Wednesday but we go into it with great confidence and it is one that we will look forward to."

Hartley is one of four Tynecastle players in the Scotland squad and believes that is a sign of the progress being made under Ivanauskas and says Saturday's win will give them added confidence when they return to training at Riccarton when preparations for Sunday's Capital derby will be brought into sharp focus: "It is great for Hearts to have four players in the squad and it bodes well for the club it gives us great confidence when we go back when we do well for Scotland.

"I will also be having a word with Julien Brellier. He's French and was giving the Scottish boys a bit of stick last week. I know he was at the game and I can't wait to get hold of him."

Taken from the Scotsman