Smith must score a point to a legend

Kenny Dalglish won 102 caps for Scotland, but if Jamie Smith steps out on to the Hampden Park pitch on Wednesday night wearing a dark-blue shirt it will simply confirm that even legends are fallible. The Celtic youngster could make his international debut against the Republic of Ireland after Berti Vogts showed the kind of faith in Smith that King Kenny could not muster by calling the winger into the squad for the Glasgow friendly.

Smith's world was almost crushed a few years ago when Dalglish told the then teenager that he would not make it with the club he idolised. Fortunately for Smith, Dalglish departed as director of football at Parkhead in the summer of 2000, and Martin O'Neill emerged on the horizon as a saviour.

That none of Dalglish's signings (Eyal Berkovic, Dmitri Kharine, Ian Wright, Olivier Tébily and Rafael Scheidt) remain could be construed as poetic justice for Smith, now 22. He was exiled, on loan to Livingston, while the others were paid over £20,000 a week to deliver one of the most ignominious seasons in the club's history, which saw John Barnes sacked as manager, Celtic knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Inverness Caledonian Thistle and finish a humiliating 18 points behind Rangers in the league.

"When I came here, the word was that the people in charge didn't think Jamie was good enough," reflected O'Neill last week. "I don't think Kenny fancied him too much. He had a few setbacks but I think that has stood him in good stead. He went on loan to Livingston, but sometimes that is an opportunity to learn things and Jamie has. He has never let the side down when I've used him. He has great pace and uses it. I like my wingers to pass people."

O'Neill's fondness for wide players meant that Smith seemed to be at the back of a very long queue at the start of the season. He was third choice for his natural slot on the right, yet his manager was so keen to increase Smith's modest playing time that he was switched to the left – ahead of a trio of internationals in Alan Thompson, Steve Guppy and Bobby Petta – where he has flourished.

That is the role Vogts saw Smith perform a week ago in the 2-0 league victory over Dundee United, when his crosses set up goals for John Hartson and Henrik Larsson, and it was enough to convince the Scotland manager to endorse another rapid promotion.

"I don't know his best position yet," said Vogts of the player who resembles Wayne Rooney in stature, but is more provider than scorer. "Jamie has a good first touch, is very quick and really confident on the ball. I want to see him more in training, but if I like what I see, he could come on as substitute against Ireland."

Smith only heard about his call-up when he turned on his television. "I thought it was a hoax," he smiled. "I know I have not played a lot of games for Celtic, but I feel confident in my own ability – there's no point in running scared."

That confidence has survived, despite the bruising it took from the most decorated player Celtic, or Scotland, ever had. "It made me stronger," he said of being written off by Dalglish. "It was very difficult at the time. I was frustrated, but there was nothing I could do about it. When I went on loan to Livingston, they were in the First Division at the time, but I was with a group of players who were fighting for something every week, instead of Celtic's Under-21s in front of a few hundred people.

"My family were very good at that time and they always believed in me. When I came back from my loan, Martin O'Neill took over. He put me on the bench two seasons ago in the CIS Cup final against Kilmarnock and I came on. Just playing at Hampden and being able to lift a trophy at the end was a great boost."

Barry Ferguson will recognise Smith's storyline. The Rangers captain had few chances to emerge at Ibrox when Walter Smith was in charge, and it took Dick Advocaat's arrival in 1998 to change that. Ferguson, who celebrated his 25th birthday this week, has grown immeasurably, according to Vogts. "Barry is now a world- class player who could play for any club, Real Madrid or Manchester United, and any country would love to have him."