Duo back in Scotland squad

Last updated: 29th August 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Duo back in Scotland squad

Maloney: Back in the fold.

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Shaun Maloney and Garry O'Connor have been recalled to the Scotland squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Iceland.

Scotland boss George Burley has been impressed by the strike pair and he has named them in his squad for their opening World Cup qualifiers.

Maloney returned to Celtic last week from Aston Villa and made an immediate impact with an impressive showing in the weekend win over Falkirk.

O'Connor has enjoyed a fine start to the campaign with Birmingham netting three goals in five appearances.

Burley will be without skipper Barry Ferguson for the two games as he recovers from injury meaning Stephen McManus will captain the side in the Rangers midfielder's absence.

Tottenham defender Alan Hutton has also been ruled out as he struggles with a foot injury.

Full squad:

Gordon (Sunderland), Marshall (Norwich), McGregor (Rangers); Alexander

(Burnley), Barr (Falkirk), Berra (Hearts), Caldwell (Celtic), Davidson

(Preston), McManus (Celtic), McNaughton (Cardiff), Naysmith (Sheffield United), Weir (Rangers); Brown (Celtic), Commons (Derby), Fletcher (Manchester United), Hartley (Celtic), Maloney (Celtic), Morrison (West Brom), Robson (Celtic), Thomson (Rangers); Boyd (Rangers), Clarkson (Motherwell), McFadden (Birmingham), Miller (Rangers), O'Connor (Birmingham).

Curfew

Meanwhile, Burley has revealed he is set to impose a curfew on Scotland's players during the international break.

"There is a code of conduct that I will put in place with the guys in the

squad," noted Burley.

"They are representing their country and they are well aware of that. We have not had any problems with them.

"We are with each other for a very short period, so it is important they represent Scotland in the right way during that time.

"Our focus is on the World Cup. We have eight games, eight difficult games, in which to try to reach South Africa. They can make history if we qualify because it has been 10 years already [since Scotland last qualified].

"We return on the Saturday evening after Macedonia and the players will be allowed to head home to their families.

"But they will be in for training on the Sunday before we then head to Iceland on the Tuesday.

"It is a tough schedule. The Old Firm guys are playing on Sunday and reporting to me with Scotland on the Monday but that's life as a professional footballer.

"The international fixtures are always sandwiched in between big club games, with Norway coming to Hampden in October.

"They will be reminded of what we want and expect from them.

"I will be speaking to them (about the Saturday night). They will be well aware we have another World Cup qualifier on the Wednesday and that they are representing their countries. I do not foresee any problems."