Thompson recovers from setback to lift Vogts' victory hopes

Steven Thompson, the Dundee United striker, has declared himself fit and ready to make a belated impact on Scotland's Far East trip. Thompson has recovered from a hamstring injury and will partner the Sunderland striker Kevin Kyle against a Hong Kong League XI in the Reunification Cup today in Scotland's last match of their Far East tour.

The Scotland manager, Berti Vogts, believes that the Hong Kong League XI are the equivalent of a joint Scottish Premier League side.

Vogts is desperate to see his side win after four successive defeats against World Cup-bound opposition. "I think the Hong Kong Select are like a team from the Scottish League without Celtic and Rangers," he said. "That's the level. If you take the Old Firm out, that's the level we have to play."

The Hong Kong XI will include a Scot, the former Dundee midfielder Gary McKeown, and a squad of mainly local players has been augmented by a smattering of Brazilians and a Nigerian. Hong Kong lost 2-0 to Turkey on Monday after South Africa had beaten the Scots in the first game of the four-team, four-match tournament.

The Scots will return home without having enhanced their reputation on the world stage too much but Vogts was none the less pleased. He said: "We played against big nations who are qualified for the World Cup. Scotland did not qualify – they were third in the group.

"I am looking to building up a new team. After tomorrow, I can look back and always I am looking to the qualification matches and the final warm-up game against the Danish team."

Thompson is one of three changes from the 2-0 loss to South Africa. Gary Caldwell, Gareth Williams and Scott Dobie dropping out with Lee Wilkie and Scott Severin joining Thompson. Vogts said: "Lee Wilkie did very well in the second half playing in the left position at centre-back with David Weir and Christian Dailly.

"Scotty Severin has done very well in training. And we start with Steven Thompson and Kevin Kyle up front with Allan Johnston on the wing."

Hong Kong go into today's game having had one extra training session than their opponents, who used Tuesday as a rest day. And Vogts will be well aware that they have already claimed one notable scalp this year – their World Cup-bound neighbours, China. China were held to a draw in the Carlsberg Cup and were then beaten on penalties.

Other nations to be beaten in Hong Kong in recent years include Paraguay and Chile – plus a Romania side that included Gheorghi Hagi.

The Reunification Cup trophy will be won by either South Africa or Turkey who play at the Hong Kong Stadium directly after Scotland's match.