CALLUM Davidson's impressive display for Scotland against England on Wednesday night has given Tony Parkes something of a selection headache ahead of tomorrow's game against Fulham.

The 23-year-old full back was among a number of players axed by Parkes from the 16 on duty in Rovers last match against Ipswich two weeks ago.

But the Scottish international may have forced his way back into the reckoning after a brilliant marking job on David Beckham at Wembley.

Parkes was keeping his cards close to his chest today about who will be selected to face the Londoners at Ewood tomorrow.

But Scotland manager Craig Brown believes Davidson and his Rovers team mate Christian Dailly represent the future of Scottish football. And his glowing praise of their performances in midweek will not be lost on Parkes when it comes to naming his 16.

"Callum will be in contention, that is for sure," said Parkes.

"But I thought all the lads who played against Ipswich performed very well.

"And if it wasn't for Nathan Blake getting sent off late on then I think we probably would have hung on.

"Everybody is in contention at this stage.

"I picked a team to play against Ipswich and I'll pick a team to play against Fulham.

Davidson was not the only casualty when Parkes named his team for the Ipswich clash.

Per Frandsen and Matt Jansen were also left out of the 16 altogether while Jason Wilcox, John Filan and Darren Peacock were dropped to the bench. But Parkes is delighted with the way they have responded and everyone appears to be pulling in the same direction again.

"The attitude of everyone has been first class," said Parkes.

"Everybody appears to have got over their disappointment now and they are knuckling down and wanting to do the right thing by the club.

"It hasn't been the ideal build up, though.

"We've probably only had all the players together for about two days since the Ipswich game because of the international situation.

"There won't be that many First Division clubs in a similar situation but we are a bit different at Blackburn Rovers and we do suffer because of it.

"So it's not ideal but we've got to try and make the most of it."

Fulham boss Paul Bracewell brings his side to Ewood on the back of a poor run, having taken only six points from their last seven games.

But Parkes is still well aware of the threat they pose, particularly up front, having travelled to the Capitol to see their game against Portsmouth 10 days ago.

He does believe they can be vulnerable at the back, though, and hopes Rovers can take advantage of that.

"When I saw them against Portsmouth they looked a good side but they aren't in a particularly good spell of form themselves at the minute so they won't be coming to Ewood with the same sort of confidence as Ipswich," said Parkes. "They like to play with wing backs and in Karl Heinz Riedle and Danny Cadamarteri they have two good strikers so they certainly look as though they can score goals.

"But if they do have a weakness it's at the back and we think we can get at them.

"So hopefully we can exploit that."

Parkes has two main injury worries ahead of the clash with Republic of Ireland international keeper Alan Kelly and defender Craig Short both facing fitness battles.

Kelly damaged a groin in the first leg of the Republic's Euro 2000 play-off with Turkey while Short is struggling to shake off a niggling calf problem.

"Alan managed a little bit of training yesterday so he is quite optimistic.

"But he still has some kicking to do and that will be the hardest part for him."

Nathan Blake is also suspended.

Rovers squad is: Kelly, Grayson, Kenna, Harkness, Davidson, Short, Peacock, Dailly, Taylor, McAteer, Carsley, Duff, Dunn, Wilcox, Frandsen, Ward, Ostenstad, Jansen, Filan.

Meanwhile, Fulham boss Bracewell has virtually a full squad to pick from apart from long term injury victim Steve Finnan.

But he does have a selection headache of his own concerning who to play up front.

Recent signing Karl Heinz Riedle is the man in form and he looks a certain starter. But leading scorer Geoff Horsfield, Paul Peschisolido, Barry Hayles and Danny Cadamarteri - who is on loan from Everton - are all vying for the other spot.

Bracewell may well decide to play three up, however, thus sacrifycing one of his big five.

Fulham will choose from: Taylor, Uhlenbeek, Brevett, Symons, Coleman, Melville, Trollope, Clark, Hayward, Riedle, Cadamarteri, Hayles, Peschisolido, Horsfield, Morgan, Collins, Hahnemann.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.