Scotland squad: Burley recalls Maloney and O'Connor

Published on Wednesday 27 August 2008 12:19

SHAUN Maloney and Gary O'Connor have been recalled to the Scotland squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Iceland.

Maloney, the 25-year-old midfielder who rejoined Celtic last week after an unhappy spell at Aston Villa, has been rewarded for his display in Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League victory over Falkirk.

Maloney was left out of the squad for last Wednesday's friendly against Northern Ireland but started manager George Burley's first game in charge against Croatia in March.

Also back in the squad is Birmingham striker Garry O'Connor, who was named in Burley's first squad but did not play and has been out of the frame since.

O'Connor's most recent Scotland appearance came in the 3-1 European Championship victory over Ukraine last October.

As expected, Tottenham full-back Alan Hutton has been excluded due to injury, while there is no place for Rangers defender Christian Dailly.

But veteran team-mate David Weir retains his place after being picked as a late replacement ahead of the Northern Ireland game.

There is also a second chance for Preston's Calum Davidson to earn his first cap for six years after injury forced him to pull out of the squad for last Wednesday's match.

Celtic midfielder Paul Hartley was another high-profile absentee from that game but he recovered to play for his club on Saturday and is included in Burley's 25-man squad.

Burley revealed he had no hesitation in drafting Maloney back into the squad – despite seeing him in action for just 70 minutes.

Burley said: "Shaun is a terrific player, who has great ability. At Aston Villa, it was difficult when he wasn't playing.

"I saw him on Saturday when he played for 70 minutes and I thought he was outstanding. He looked lively and bright.

"I spoke to Shaun and he felt with a couple of games under his belt that he would be back to 100% so I had no hesitation in calling him up."

Burley also sought the advice of his predecessor Alex McLeish before taking the decision to include O'Connor in his plans for the World Cup double-header.

"I spoke to Alex about him," said Burley.

"He has started the season well and he gives us a different dimension and he is in good goalscoring form."

The major disappointment for Burley ahead of the games against Macedonia and Iceland was the absence of Hutton, who is still struggling with injury.

He said: "Alan has progressed in the last few years into a top-class international full-back, some people would say one of the best full-backs in Britain.

"It's very disappointing but we were aware of his injury pre-season. We kept our fingers crossed that he would be available for the start of the campaign.

"Unfortunately, that isn't to be."

Scotland squad for World Cup Group qualifiers in Macedonia on September 6 and Iceland on September 10:

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)