Who's hot and who's not ahead of Norway crunch

WITH striker Kenny Miller pulling out of the Scotland squad yesterday through injury, along with midfielders Kevin Thomson and Kris Commons, there are only 22 player's left in manager George Burley's squad.

Even before Burley named his picks for Saturday's World Cup qualifying match against Norway, there were significant absentees. Captain Barry Ferguson is injured, stand-in captain Stephen McManus is suspended, and full-back Alan Hutton is also injured. Elsewhere, Rangers striker Lee McCulloch announced his early retirement from international football last month.

Burley's problems have not stopped there. James McFadden, described yesterday by assistant manager terry Butcher as a "matchwinner", was dropped to the bench by his club Birmingham City – managed by Burley's predecessor Alex McLeish – at the weekend.

But the Scotland manager has decided not to call any reinforcements into the squad – at least at this stage, anyway.

So just who is fit, who is getting a game for their club, and who is on form ahead of this weekend's match at Hampden?

• GOALKEEPERS

CRAIG GORDON

An ever present for Sunderland this season, the former Hearts goalkeeper will be handed the No 1 jersey at Hampden. Gordon has been in good form in the Premier League but made some poor decisions in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Saturday, when his misjudgment of a corner in the last minute allowed Cesc Fabregas to equalise.

ALLAN McGREGOR

The Rangers keeper's preparations for the Norway match have not been ideal. McGregor was dropped by Ibrox manager Walter Smith a couple of weeks ago following concerns about his form and his lifestyle off the field, but he replaced Neil Alexander for the 1-0 defeat to St Mirren on Sunday.

DAVID MARSHALL

The former Celtic keeper has been between the sticks for all ten of Norwich City's Championship matches this season. He was praised for a penalty save against Barnsley a couple of weeks back but was blamed for Derby County's late winner on Saturday after inexplicably racing off his line and giving Nathan Ellington the chance to roll the ball into the net.

• DEFENDERS

GRAHAM ALEXANDER

We're not suggesting Alexander should replace the injured Kenny Miller in attack, but the veteran defender has been banging the goals in for Burnley this season, scoring four in ten Coca-Cola Championship games. He played the full 90 minutes in the 3-1 defeat at Reading at the weekend.

DARREN BARR

Barr made his Scotland debut in the goalless draw with Northern Ireland in August but he is unlikely to feature against Norway. The centre half has been in terrific form for Falkirk this season, although he looked uncharacteristically slack as the Bairns' defence was given the runaround by Motherwell on Sunday afternoon.

CHRISTOPHE BERRA

Another defender who is more likely to be a substitute than a starter when George Burley names his team on Saturday. Captain Berra has been an ever present in the SPL this season for a Hearts team that have conceded five goals in the past two games.

KIRK BROADFOOT

Burley famously labelled Broadfoot as a player with "limited ability" but he grabbed a crucial goal on his international debut against Iceland last month. The right-back has featured in all eight of Rangers' SPL games this season and had a late header cleared off the line in the 1-0 defeat at Love Street at the weekend.

GARY CALDWELL

Generally regarded as Celtic's most in-form defender, Caldwell will almost certainly start in the heart of defence against Norway. He was sent off at Rugby Park last month but returned from suspension for Saturday's comfortable win over Hamilton. Caldwell played the full 90 minutes in both of the previous Group 9 qualifiers in Macedonia and Iceland.

JAMIE McALLISTER

A surprise call-up to the squad, McAllister has only ever played one match for Scotland, the 4-1 friendly win against Trinidad and Tobago four years ago. The former Aberdeen, Livingston and Hearts left-back has featured in every Championship game for Bristol City this season and will provide cover for Gary Naysmith. The pair came face to face at the weekend as Bristol lost 3-0 to Sheffield United.

GARY NAYSMITH

Naysmith has been an ever present in the Sheffield United side following his £1 million move from Everton. The experienced full-back played the full 90 minutes of the qualifiers in Macedonia and Iceland, and is expected to do so again against Norway on Saturday.

DAVID WEIR

Weir has struck a deal with Burley that he is only selected for a squad if he is going to feature in the match so, especially with Stephen McManus out through suspension, we can expect the Rangers defender to start against Norway. The 38-year-old has only missed one Premier League game this season and has been in solid form for the Ibrox club.

• MIDFIELDERS

SCOTT BROWN

Some Celtic supporters have voiced concerns about Brown's form this season, but Gordon Strachan and George Burley do not share those doubts. The former Hibs midfielder has featured in every SPL game for his club and both their Champions League games, and he played for his country in Macedonia and Iceland. He even scored a rare goal in a 4-0 Co-operative Insurance Cup match against Livingston.

DARREN FLETCHER

It is turning into quite a season already for the Manchester United midfielder. Fletcher has been a regular in Sir Alex Ferguson's midfield and chipped in with a couple of crucial goals against Newcastle and Portsmouth. Last week he was given a three-year extension to his contract at Old Trafford and yesterday he was handed the captaincy for Scotland's game against Norway. The 24-year-old has not always played to his potential in a dark blue jersey but big things will be expected of him on Saturday.

PAUL HARTLEY

Played four times for Celtic since Scotland's last match, but two matches were fleeting appearances as a substitute. Played 82 minutes of the match away to Villarreal, then left on the bench again for Saturday's 4-0 win over Hamilton.

SHAUN MALONEY

A regular starter for Celtic, although 'rested' on the bench for games against Livingston and Hamilton. Tends to play 60 to 70 minutes of a match before making way for fresh legs. Has scored two in nine appearances for Celtic this season since returning to Parkhead from Aston Villa, a statistic he knows he can improve on.

JAMES MORRISON

A regular fixture in the West Brom starting XI, with the baggies picking up a couple of valuable victories in their last two Premier outings. Got himself on the scoresheet in a 3-2 win against West Ham and a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa.

BARRY ROBSON

The Celtic midfielder has played four games since Scotland's last match, with injury hampering his appearances for Celtic. Most significantly, he missed a penalty in his club's disappointing scoreless draw with Aalborg. Robson return to European duty as a substitute for the final 16 minutes of the next group match, away to Villarreal, then regained his place in the Celtic starting line-up against Hamilton on Saturday.

• FORWARDS

JAMES MCFADDEN

An untimely demotion to the bench for Birmingham City's last game, against Queen's Park Rangers on Saturday, was not an ideal way to prepare for this weekend's clash, but Terry Butcher, the Scotland assistant manager, insists this won't be a factor in team selection this week.

Prior to that McFadden had made nine appearances for Birmingham this season, scoring just once – against Cardiff in a 2-1 win. Like Maloney, his ratio deserves the verdict 'could do better'.

CHRIS IWELUMO

The Wolves striker was a surprise call-up, but is certainly the in-from player among Scotland's striking options if his last game is anything to go by. Scored a hat-trick against Preston North End on 20 September, bringing his tally to eight for the season. The trouble is, he was also sent off in that same game after a spat with Sean St Ledger, which ended with both players pushing their heads into each other. Iwelumo was handed a three game ban, and so has not played since. Will at least be fresh.

STEVEN FLETCHER

Has only actually scored in one of his 11 appearances for Hibs this season, although it was a double against Dundee United last month. Has perhaps been affected by the speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid earlier in the season. The return to Easter Road of Derek Riordan can only be to his advantage as he seeks to find the net on a more consistent basis.

DAVID CLARKSON

Relegated to the bench for Motherwell's most recent outing, against Falkirk on Sunday, after the disappointment of last week's defeat by AS Nancy in the UEFA Cup. Has otherwise enjoyed a steady start to the season, scoring four times – including goals against both sides of the Old Firm – suggesting he has more form than some bigger names in the squad.

KRIS BOYD

The ultimate enigma has experienced his usual season of mixed performances. Scored a wonder goal in the Co-Operative Insurance Cup against Partick Thistle two weeks ago but was then an unused substitute on the Saturday against Hibs. Fared better on Sunday, when he was given the last 24 minutes of the surprise defeat against St Mirren. But still not a regular starter at Ibrox, despite his goal-scoring record. Has hit the net four times in seven appearances this season.