BLACKBURN Rovers defender Callum Davidson is hoping to get the nod for the second leg of Scotland's Euro 2000 play off with England at Wembley tomorrow.

Davidson was fighting to shake off a hamstring strain before last Saturday's first leg at Hampden but, despite winning his fitness battle, manager Craig Brown selected Paul Ritchie instead to do a man-marking job on David Beckham.

"After training last Thursday the injury felt fine but the manager decided to go with Paul Ritchie anyway, probably because he was still a bit worried about the hamstring," said Davidson.

"Now I'm definitely available for selection and hopefully I'll get picked.

"But it depends on how Craig Brown wants to approach the game.

"I'd love to be involved, though, because playing against England is something you dream about as a kid."

Davidson also believes Scotland cannot afford to be too cavalier tomorrow, even though they need to claw back a 2-0 deficit from the first leg.

"We need to be patient," said Davidson.

"We can't go into it with all guns blazing otherwise England will punish us on the break.

"We've got to be cautious and see what happens from there.

"I thought it was a pretty even game on Saturday. Paul Scholes took his chances brilliantly and that was the difference between the two sides." Elsewhere, Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy looks set to recall Jason McAteer for his side's second leg against Turkey in Bursa tomorrow.

McAteer has been missing from the international arena for seven months because of an injury nightmare but he could get the nod in place of right winger Rory Delap.

The two sides drew 1-1 at Lansdowne Road on Saturday and McCarthy's men now face a hostile welcome in Turkey.

"We've had to contend with a war zone in the Balkans against Yugoslavia and Macedonia, the misery of injury-time goals against us by Croatia and Macedonia and now an eight-hour trip by plane, boat and coach into a country suffering earthquakes," said McCarthy.

"You realise there are more important things than a football match but I will still be sick for these lads if we fail to go the extra mile and reach the finals. These lads deserve it."

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