Jamie named in Scots squad for glamour game

Nov 12 2008 by Paul Thomson, East Kilbride News

JAMIE McAllister has been recalled to the Scotland squad for the friendly international with Argentina next week.

The 30-year-old was yesterday (Tuesday) named in George Burley’s 26-man squad for the game at Hampden Park on Wednesday, November 19, which will see the return of football legend Diego Maradona as Argentina’s coach.

The man who is idolised the world over – and adored in this country for his “Hand of God” moment against England – will take charge of Argentina for the first time against Scotland.

And McAllister looks set to win his first Scotland cap during the glamour tie since making his international debut against Trinidad and Tobago in 2004.

The Bristol City defender made it into the squad for Scotland’s World Cup qualifier against Norway last month, but failed to feature in the disappointing 0-0 draw.

However, a friendly offers the manager time to experiment and McAllister could pull on the Scotland jersey against the likes of Manchester United’s Carlos Tevez and Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano when the Scots play their last match before a crunch World Cup qualifier with Holland in March.

Argentina will arrive in Glasgow next week minus Barcelona star Lionel Messi, whom the Scottish Football Association had hoped would feature.

But with Barca and Argentina having an agreement that Messi doesn’t feature in friendly matches, not even the draw of working with Maradona could entice the little playmaker to make the trip to Scotland.

In the Scotland line up, McAllister will also be joined by Barry Ferguson and Alan Hutton who have returned from injury, while Chris Iwelumo – who missed that sitter against Norway – also stays in the squad.