Ferguson expected to gain recall

Scotland skipper Barry Ferguson is set to return to the starting line-up for the Euro 2008 qualifier against France at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.

The Rangers skipper missed Saturday's game at Hampden Park against Lithuania through suspension and watched from the stands as the Scots won 3-1 to move in to second place in Group B.

Scotland coach Andy Watson, however, indicated that Ferguson will slot back into the midfield for the game in Paris.

He said: 'I would think that with Barry being captain and being one of our key players, then all being well he should be fit and available for selection, as they say.

'Everyone trained and there is obviously the bumps and knocks that you get after games which take a day or two to settle down.

'But everyone is in fine fettle.'

France sit on top of the group after the 0-0 draw against World Cup winners Italy at the San Siro on Saturday while Scotland's nervy victory against Lithuania saw them leapfrog the Azzurri into second place, a point behind Raymond Domenech's men.

Georgia's late equaliser at home to Ukraine also helped Scotland's qualification chances, a favourable turn of events not missed by Watson.

He said: 'It was a good weekend. First and foremost, we got our own result right.

'We were always going to be looking for results elsewhere.

'Georgia got a late draw against Ukraine, who we see as being one of the top challengers, and the Italy and France game ended up a draw so all in all, we gained two points on our main rivals.'

Source: Soccernet.com