Mowbray lifts gloom for Scots pair

Published on Saturday 16 October 2004 00:29

HIBERNIAN manager Tony Mowbray has admitted to having pep-talks with Gary Caldwell and Ian Murray after Scotland’s disastrous World Cup encounters against Norway and Moldova.

Defender Caldwell, 22, played in both the 1-0 defeat by the Norwegians at Hampden Park last weekend and the embarrassing draw in Chisinau on Wednesday.

Murray, meanwhile, came on as a substitute in Moldova after the 23-year-old had been drafted into the squad following a long-term injury for his second cap.

Now the Easter Road manager has revealed he has had to lift the two players after the criticism directed towards the Scotland team and, particularly, national boss Berti Vogts in the wake of the World Cup qualifiers.

Mowbray said: "Young players read newspapers and listen to the radio and all the negativity will affect them.

"It is my job to pick them up and convince them that they are not such bad players after all. But both of them have been fine.

"They have been having fun in training and we structured it in such a way as to be competitive, which helps lift the players."

The pair are both set to play in the Premierleague visit of Dundee United where both will line up against former Hibs team-mate Grant Brebner.

The midfielder was released by Mowbray and joined the Tangerines. But the former Celtic defender maintains there will be no hard feelings when Brebner makes his return to Easter Road.

Mowbray said: "Grant has been away for around seven weeks now, but we welcome him back and wish him all the best. But, obviously, we hope he doesn’t do too well.

"I know it will be a special game for him, but I am sure the fans will give him a good welcome."

Meanwhile, James Grady reckons his striking department must share the responsibility for Dundee United’s defensive woes of late.

United head for Easter Road on the back of three consecutive league defeats in which no fewer than 12 goals were conceded.

Problems in the back line are evident, but manager Ian McCall has been at pains to point out that every player must take the flack.

And rather than pass the buck, frontman Grady agrees the attackers must do their bit to fix the leaks.

He said: "In football a team must defend from the front so us lads who play in the attacking areas must take some of the blame too."