Murray Davidson in Scotland spotlight

Jan 26 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

murray davidson

SAINTS midfielder Murray Davidson was under the national spotlight in the clash with Celtic.

It emerged yesterday that recently appointed Scotland manager Craig Levein had made the trip to Perth specifically to assess the 21-year-old midfield powerhouse.

He confirmed conjecture sparked by the fact that the Glasgow side didn’t feature a single Scot in their starting line-up. Jody Morris has also been linked with a possible Scotland cap, under the grandparents rule.

Late last year PA Sport highlighted Scotland’s interest in Davidson but injury forced him to pull out of an U21 call-up to face Azerbaijan.

Levein’s first full international is against the Czech Republic on March 3, with a return U21 tie with Azerbaijan the previous evening.

Levein had shown an interest in taking Davidson from Livingston to Dundee United last summer but Perth manager Derek McInnes moved in to secure his signature in a productive double deal with Dave Mackay.

Yesterday McInnes said: “It should be a huge boost to Murray’s confidence, learning that a national manager as highly regarded as Craig Levein is watching him. It’s fantastic for Murray – a real compliment.

“Murray and Kevin Moon haven’t had much training recently because of their history with groin problems. We didn’t risk them overdoing it on the astroturf during the bad weather.

“Murray has made a big impact on the SPL since moving out of the First Division. He is a strong, strong boy, he puts himself about in the midfield area and he has a decent touch and poses a goal threat. He isn’t the finished article but he has plenty of fine qualities.”

McInnes, who is still eager to add a central defender to his squad before the transfer deadline, is set to make changes for tomorrow night’s trip to Tannadice, with defender Graham Gartland suspended after his red card against Celtic. Replacement Steven Anderson could retain his place, with Stuart McCaffrey’s illness last week undermining the comeback schedule. But he got a run last night in a bounce game to assess his readiness.

New loan signing Cillian Sheridan is also listed in the squad, after being ruled out of the cup tie at Forfar and Sunday’s game with his employers. Long-term injury victim Andy Jackson was on the bench against Celtic and McInnes said: “He is an U21 player and that was a reward for all the hard work he has been putting in.”

Collin Samuel is expected to resume training towards the end of the week and Kevin Rutkiewicz is a couple of weeks away.

Gartland is suspended for the derby but available for the Hearts game and the cup clash with United before bracing himself for suspension after going over the points threshold.

Reflecting on the Celtic defeat, McInnes said: “I felt sorry for our supporters. It was a sore one for us and for them. We went into that game believing we could win and still felt that way at half-time. But the red card changed everything.

“I felt it was harsh on Graham Gartland because referee Willie Collum said it was accidental.

“But we will take our medicine but take the positives from the game. I was really pleased with the lads when we had 11 players on the park. They made it like a cup tie and got themselves in front. But football changes in an instant.

“We could have defended one or two of their goals better but we were all suffering for that final 15 minutes, especially after all the earlier promise. But it’s gone now and we move on to Dundee United. We have had two close games with them and I don’t expect this to be any different.

“We’re ready to go again, against a team which is chasing that third position. They are back on an even keel after losing Craig Levein to the Scotland job but I am expecting a positive reaction from my players.”

GRAHAM Gartland will sit out tomorrow’s clash with Dundee United and also the St Mirren game on February 10 after adding to his disciplinary points against Celtic.