IN HIS time of need Andy Roxburgh turned to youth and experience and
called in Aberdeen's Eoin Jess and Jim McInally, of Dundee United, to
take his squad for Scotland's international against Italy at Ibrox next
week back up to 16, writes James Traynor.
Unless the squad is hit further by injury, it is unlikely that either
will start the World Cup qualifying match.
Nevertheless, 21-year-old Jess is delighted he has been called into
the senior squad, although when he received the message that he had to
contact his club manager he did not think it was to hear such good news.
''I thought I had done something wrong and was in trouble,'' he said.
''I couldn't believe it when the manager told me I had been called in to
the squad to face Italy. It was a total surprise.
''I had planned to go to Ibrox and support the team, but now I will be
on the substitutes' bench at worst. I watch the Italians every week on
television and they are packed with skill, but I am not overawed by the
prospect of playing against them.''
Jess believes the Scots' determination will achieve the triumph
required. ''Everyone knows about their captain, Franco Baresi, who is
reckoned to be the best defender in the world, but we have the backing
of the best fans in the world and I fancy Ally McCoist to keep his run
going by scoring a couple,'' he added.
Roxburgh regards the Aberdeen striker as a gifted and intelligent
young player. McInally's experience and versatility could come into play
at some stage in the tie, as he can play in the back line or in
midfield, or operate in wide areas.
* The B & Q Cup final between Morton and Hamilton will be played at
Love Street, Paisley, on Sunday, December 13, kick-off 2pm.
Strathclyde Police yesterday insisted that the game be all-ticket with
a crowd limit of 17,000, even though both clubs estimated that the
maximum attendance would be in the region of 10,000.
* LEEDS United's Scottish midfielder Gordon Strachan has denied
swearing at a senior police officer before the midweek Coca-Cola Cup
defeat at Watford.
Chief Inspector Steve Read claimed he was sworn at by Strachan when he
went to the Leeds dressing room to announce that the kick-off would be
delayed for 15 minutes for crowd-safety reasons.
In a statement, Leeds manager Howard Wilkinson denied that any abusive
remarks had been directed at the police officer. He said: ''If he
overheard anything, he simply heard the reaction of grown men
disappointed about the kick-off delay.'' Wilkinson added that he hoped
the matter would not be taken any further.
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