Czech Rep v Scotland preview

Burley's depleted side take on Euro 2008 qualifiers

By Lewis Rutledge   Last updated: 30th May 2008

Burley George Scotland manager

Burley: In confident mood

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Scotland continue their preparations for this autumn's World Cup qualifiers with a friendly in Prague.

Czech Republic have qualified for Euro 2008 and will provide a stern test for George Burley's depleted side in his second game in charge.

Steven Fletcher became the sixth player to withdraw from Burley's squad due to injury on Thursday.

James McFadden, Kris Boyd, Kevin Thomson, Steven Whittaker and Alan Hutton had already pulled out of the trip to Prague, so Burley has the opportunity to send out a youthful team.

West Brom's James Morrison is set to make his international debut while Barry Robson should also get his first start.

Darren Fletcher, Paul Hartley and Shaun Maloney are likely to feature in midfield, with Kenny Miller ploughing a lone furrow up front.

Kevin McNaughton and Gary Naysmith are the only available full-backs and will line up in defence with Gary Caldwell and captain Stephen McManus.

McManus had been struggling with a groin injury earlier in the week but he appears to have won his fitness race.

Bruckner targeting win

Burley is in confident mood after holding Croatia to a 1-1 draw at Hampden Park in March but Czech Republic will be looking for victory in their final game before the European Championship.

Czech Republic beat Lithuania 2-0 on Tuesday before Karel Bruckner confirmed his 23-man squad for the tournament in Austria and Switzerland.

Bruckner may be tempted to take a look at those players that did not feature against Lithuania but he is expected to again partner Milan Baros with Jan Koller in attack.

Stanislav Vlcek provided support for the front two on Tuesday, with David Jarolim, Jan Polak and Jaroslav Plasil in midfield.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech was shielded by a defensive quartet of Zdenek Grygera, Tomas Ujfalusi, David Rozehnal and Marek Jankulovski and it would be a surprise if there many changes at the back.

Czech Republic face Switzerland in the opening game of Euro 2008 and then meet Portugal and Turkey in their other Group A matches.