I THINK it's about time Alex McLeish came down to East Lancashire to experience the Turf Moor hospitality.

And I know two players in particular who would make him very welcome.

Andy Gray and Steven Caldwell will no doubt be locked to their television sets tomorrow to watch Scotland take on the Ukraine at Hampden Park. But I'm sure they'd rather be up there in Glasgow, out on the field doing their bit.

Both have played for Scotland before and both are in superb form for the Clarets. Since Caldwell has been given the captain's armband, he has been a solid and steadying influence at the back, and Gray can't stop scoring goals.

I think they have been really unlucky to miss out on the Scotland squad for these two matches.

But it's just down to one man. If the manager likes the look of you, then you can be fortunate enough to be included. If not, then you've just got to keep trying as hard as you can for your club.

It's great to see Scotland doing so well. We've had some troubled times in recent years and we almost slipped off the international radar altogether, but Walter Smith and McLeish have really got us going again.

And after the remarkable game in France, I don't think we've got a better chance of qualifying.

Games against the Ukraine and Georgia are games we're capable of winning and what a feat it would be to qualify for the Euro 2008 Championships.

Of course, we've got our own representative in the Scottish camp in Graham Alexander and it would be so good to see him succeed.

Although he's coming to the end of his career, he's shown already that he's still a very good player, and he'll be desperate to make it to the finals next year.

It would be good for him and also good for the club.

I remember when I played, there was myself, Adam Blackwell and Willie Morgan all Scottish lads playing for the Clarets. There's something about the Scottish mentality, a really strong will to win and a real hunger to do well and get results.

Alexander and Scotland will definitely need that in the next two games.