Shearer refuses to get carried away

Football

Despite his goal in Scotland B's 2-1 win over Sweden in Stockholm on Tuesday, Duncan Shearer is playing down his chances of making Scotland's Euro '96 squad next summer. "I still don't think I will be in England next year if we qualify," he said.

"I am pleased that I scored because I want Craig Brown [the Scotland manager] and the strikers in our senior squad to know I am ready to do a job if asked.

"But I have a real battle on my hands getting a game for Aberdeen at the moment."

Shearer has been confined to the bench at Pittodrie this season as Aberdeen's manager, Roy Aitken, keeps faith with Scott Booth and Billy Dodds.

"I simply don't have a case to go in and see Roy Aitken at the moment," he said. "The two guys who are playing at the moment have been exceptional for Aberdeen so far this season.

"But scoring in Sweden is another reminder from me to Roy and I'm delighted with that.

"I love it so much every time I score a goal and it was special after being asked to captain the side. I love to hear the roar of the crowd and although there was hardly anybody there in Stockholm when I scored there was a roar inside me.

"I was also pleased that I played for almost 80 minutes because it's a big difference stepping up to B international level from reserve team football."

Brown has already used Shearer in Scotland's Group Eight qualifying campaign and a couple of other fringe candidates staked their claim on Tuesday.

Midfielders Scot Gemmill (Nottingham Forest ) and Paul Telfer (Coventry) impressed the B team's joint bosses, Murdo MacLeod and Tommy Burns, as a late winner from the substitute, Kilmarnock's Tom Brown, ensured victory.

"It was a good team performance and it was great to see us passing the ball so well away from home in Europe," MacLeod said.

Scotland are set to include more B games in their forthcoming programme with the possibility of playing in Denmark next April.