Scotland v Northern Ireland preview

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Last updated: 20th August 2008

Scotland v Northern Ireland preview

Burley: Seeking first win in charge

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George Burley goes in search of his first win as Scotland boss against Northern Ireland at Hampden Park.

The former Southampton manager takes charge of Scotland for the third time on Wednesday evening following a draw with Croatia and defeat to Czech Republic in his first two games at the helm.

With the visit of Northern Ireland to Hampden Scotland's last preparatory match before the start of their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, Burley is keen for a morale-boosting win.

With a number of senior players absent for Scotland, Burley has opted to recruit experience in a bid to fill the void with the likes of Barry Ferguson, Alan Hutton, Gary Caldwell and Paul Hartley all missing.

Weir starting

Veteran defender David Weir will start in place of Caldwell at the heart of Scotland's defence alongside Celtic's Stephen McManus.

Cardiff pair Gavin Rae and Kevin McNaughton are also out along with Preston left-back Callum Davidson who had been recalled to the squad after earning his last cap in 2002.

Celtic's Barry Robson is set to miss out with a virus meaning Rangers' Kevin Thomson could be in line to make his international debut.

Out-of-sorts Rangers striker Kenny Miller is set to start up front alongside Birmingham City forward James McFadden.

McFadden will be faced by Blues team-mates Maik Taylor in Northern Ireland's goal.

Taylor in goal

Experienced keeper Taylor, who will captain the side in Aaron Hughes' absence, is set to win his 68th caps at Hampden Park

Nigel Worthington, like Burley, is without a number of key personnel after his squad was hit by a spate of withdrawals ahead of the big kick-off.

Along with Fulham defender Hughes' withdrawal, Worthington is also without the likes of Kyle Lafferty, George McCartney, Keith Gillespie and Damien Johnson.

Dundee United's on-loan striker Warren Feeney is set to partner free-scoring international David Healy up front with Lafferty missing with a hamstring complaint.

Northern Ireland, like Scotland, will be keen to impress with a trip to Bratislava to face Slovakia in early September in a World Cup qualifier just around the corner.