A beginning not the end for McFadden

The Everton attacker, who is eager to return after being suspended for the chastening defeat at Hampden Park, claimed the players are always proud to represent Scotland. As for the game in Celje, it offered those like himself, on the fringes of what he termed "a settled side", the opportunity "to show the manager what they can do" with the European Championship in mind.

There is another reason why the match in the 5,000-capacity Petrol Arena retains a significance for both countries, even if McFadden confessed to having been ignorant of Uefa's seeding system, adding: "As long as we try to win, it doesn't matter what we're winning it for." If Scotland were to finish where they stand now, fifth out of six teams, they would be in the fifth pot of seeds in the draw for the qualifying rounds of Euro 2008. That would confirm a rapid decline - Craig Brown led them into the Euro 2000 qualifiers as first seeds - and could lead to their being grouped with four of next summer's World Cup finalists.

It would also reduce the likelihood of McFadden, 22, and others of his generation appearing in a major tournament. Victory tomorrow, however, would see Scotland regain fourth-seed status, thereby easing, if only marginally, the task confronting Walter Smith in his first full qualifying campaign.

The newspapers that were passed around among the squad en route to the tiny former Yugoslav republic contained damning criticism of their display on Saturday. McFadden felt it was "unfair" for people to be "depressed and negative", pointing out that Scotland fought their way into play-off contention despite being written off after starting with two points from three games under Berti Vogts.

The former Motherwell forward has started Everton's last five matches, his longest run in David Moyes' team. The chances of his being recalled by Smith will be improved by the absence of Wigan's Lee McCulloch, whose toe injury forced him to join the suspended captain, Barry Ferguson, in not travelling.

* The Wales defender James Collins could make a surprise comeback to play in tomorrow's World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan despite being taken off during the 3-2 victory over Northern Ireland in Belfast on Saturday with a dislocated shoulder.