Goalkeeper headache for Scotland

Published on Tuesday 4 August 2009 22:48

THE consequences of over-indulgence can often be felt long after the next morning, and the impact of the dawn-chorus frolics at Cameron House hotel by members of the Scotland squad in spring continues to impinge on the international team ahead of the vital World Cup qualifier against Norway next week.

Manager George Burley was yesterday forced to name three goalkeepers with only five caps between them after being unable to turn to Allan McGregor as a replacement for Craig Gordon, who has failed in his bid to be fit following knee surgery.

McGregor would have been an obvious choice to take over from Gordon, and indeed was preferred over the former Hearts goalkeeper when Scotland travelled to the Netherlands in March. However, his decision to join skipper Barry Ferguson and various other team-mates in an extended drinking session saw the Rangers pair relegated to the bench against Iceland four days later, and, following misbehaviour during the game itself, excluded from Scotland involvement completely.

The incident has compelled Burley to impose stricter regulations ahead of the return to the traditional Scotland team-base on the banks of Loch Lomond. He will talk to the players on their arrival this weekend and outline their responsibility to themselves and the nation prior to next week's Group 9 clash in Oslo.

"They will not be taking any alcohol," he said. "That scenario happened between the last games. We will make it clear we will not tolerate that kind of behaviour again. I will speak to the staff and players. I have to be aware of every scenario – what they eat and what they drink. There won't be any alcohol drunk from the moment we meet up at Cameron House."

With McGregor out of the equation, Burley has opted to pick Neil Alexander, David Marshall and also Jamie Langfield, the Aberdeen goalkeeper who Burley saw concede five goals against Sigma Olomouc in a Europa League qualifier last week. Alexander is the most experienced of the trio, with three caps. Cardiff City's Marshall has featured twice for Scotland while Langfield is still uncapped.

Burley appears to favour Alexander to start against the Norwegians, having high-lighted his big-match experience. The Rangers keeper is still unsure whether he will be begin the season as first-choice at Ibrox, following McGregor's partial rehabilitation in the eyes of Walter Smith.

There has been no softening of stance on Burley's part, and both McGregor and Ferguson were absent from yesterday's 23-man squad. Seven of the party will not meet up with their Scotland team-mates until Sunday, due to commitments in the English Championship, which kicks-off this Friday.

Darren Fletcher might not meet up with the Scotland squad until Sunday evening. Despite being made skipper in the absence of Stephen McManus, the midfielder is keen to play for Manchester United in the Community Shield clash with Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday.

But Burley's main headaches are in the goalkeeper and centre-half positions, with McManus missing. The 39-year-old David Weir has been overlooked and looks to have won the last of his 64 caps. Burnley's Steven Caldwell is likely to deputise for McManus, alongside his brother Gary.

Another broad hint from Burley concerned Alexander, who last kept goal for Scotland when keeping a clean-sheet against Japan in the Kirin Cup in 2006. He has also played in a Uefa Cup final for Rangers, and two successive Scottish Cup finals.

"David Marshall has been in the squad before and has done really well," he said. "Neil Alexander came into the Rangers team at the end of last season and was outstanding, and I remember him well at Ipswich Town. He has done very well at the highest level.

"You look at your options and you have to make a decision – who do you think is going to be the best on the day? That is the bottom line."

Burley said the shared lack of international experience among the goalkeepers was simply a fact they had to accept. Alexander, he noted, has had the benefit of recent big-match occasions with Rangers. Marshall kept a clean-sheet for Celtic against Barcelona in the Nou Camp in a Uefa Cup tie, but this was five years ago.

"Neil Alexander finished the season with Rangers and was outstanding – I cannot remember him making a mistake," said Burley. "He has that experience. And David Marshall is experienced at club level. If you lose a 'keeper like Craig it is always going to be a big blow. But other players can come in."

For World Cup qualifier v Norway (12 Aug)

GOALKEEPERS

N Alexander(Rangers)

J Langfield(Aberdeen)

D Marshall(Cardiff)

DEFENDERS

D Barr(Falkirk)

C Berra(Wolves)

G Caldwell(Celtic)

S Caldwell(Burnley)

C Davidson(Preston)

A Hutton(Tottenham)

J McAllister(Bristol City)

S Whittaker(Rangers)

MIDFIELDERS

G Alexander(Burnley)

S Brown(Celtic)

K Commons(Derby)

D Fletcher(Man Utd)

P Hartley(Bristol City)

S Maloney(Celtic)

J McFadden(Birmingham)

FORWARDS

D Clarkson(Bristol City)

S Fletcher(Burnley)

R McCormack(Cardiff)

K Miller(Rangers)

S Naismith(Rangers)