Football / World Cup: Nevin has the tricks for Scots

IT looked as if there was no way back for the older hands after Scotland's humiliating World Cup defeat in Portugal, but Andy Roxburgh showed yesterday that he has not closed the door entirely by adding the 29-year-old Pat Nevin to the squad for the virtually meaningless Group One qualifier against Estonia in Aberdeen next Wednesday.

The Scotland manager's selection is almost identical to the one which secured a 3-0 win in Estonia last week, but, after adding Nevin, the Tranmere Rovers winger, to the group of 16 on duty in Tallinn, Roxburgh said: 'I haven't ruled anyone out of my plans for next season. I am simply continuing to have a look at the younger players and ones who have been on the fringe.'

Roxburgh believes that Nevin's trickery could be too much for Estonia. 'Pat is the sort of player who can wriggle his way past a packed defence,' he said.

The rebuilding of Scotland has prompted Roxburgh to renew his interest in Don Hutchison, the 22-year-old Liverpool midfielder. An initial approach was rebuffed after Liverpool pointed out to Hutchison, whose father was born in Nairn, that he would become a 'foreigner' in Uefa's eyes when it came to European club football.

Ian Dowie and Jimmy Quinn are expected to lead Northern Ireland's attack in their difficult Group Three qualifier against Lithuania in Vilnius tonight. The change is due to the withdrawal of the injured Luton striker, Phil Gray.

Scotland squad, Sporting

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