Lee McCulloch makes Scotland line-up
Lee McCulloch has been named in the Scotland team by national team coach Craig Levein to face Lithuania in their opening UEFA 2012 European Football Championship qualifying clash tonight.
The holding midfielder returns to the international fold almost three years after winning his last cap in a Euro 2008 qualifier against Italy at Hampden. After George Burley took over from Alex McLeish, McCulloch stated that he no longer wished to be involved with Scotland, instead preferring to focus on his career at club level with Scottish Premier League giants Rangers.
However, he has been coaxed back into international action by Levein, who is set to take charge of his first competitive match with Scotland. McCulloch missed out on Levein’s first two squads, for friendlies against Czech Republic and Sweden, through injury.
Meanwhile, James McFadden, who has netted 15 times for his country, has been left on the bench as he has been suffering from a minor groin injury. However, he may still play a part in the match.
Oldest-ever Scotland international
As expected, David Weir of Rangers will become the oldest-ever player to turn out for Scotland when he wins his 66th cap alongside Stephen McManus in the heart of defence. With left-back Lee Wallace ruled out through injury, Stephen Whittaker has switched from the right while first-choice right-back Alan Hutton has proved his fitness to the head coach after a hernia operation over the summer and the Tottenham Hotspur player will start in Levein’s cautious 4-1-4-1 formation.
In front of McCulloch in central midfield will be established pairing Scott Brown of Celtic and captain Darren Fletcher of Manchester United, while they will be joined on the flanks by Middlesbrough’s Barry Robson and Rangers’ Steven Naismith. Kenny Miller, who has netted five goals in three games for Rangers so far this season, starts as the lone striker.
Tags: