The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Maloney tipped for Scotland impact
CELTIC DEFENDER Charlie Mulgrew has backed former team-mate Shaun Maloney to make as big of an impact with Scotland as he has with Wigan.
The forward was instrumental in his club’s successful fight for survival in the Barclays Premier League.
Recent displays have earned him a recall to Craig Levein’s squad for this weekend’s friendly against the United States in Florida.
Maloney’s last appearance for the national team was against the Faroe Islands in November 2010 and Mulgrew believes his old Celtic team-mate has plenty more to offer the Scots.
He said: “Shaun is a top player and a top professional so it was no surprise to me to see him doing so well down there.
“I’ll speak to him about it when he comes over but there was no surprises there.
“Of course he can make an impact here he is a top quality player.
“We have seen him do it in the Premier League at the highest level so I’m sure he can made an impact for Scotland.”
Mulgrew himself is hoping to earn only his second cap after an excellent season with the Hoops which saw him scoop a number of end-of-season awards.
He made his international bow in the last outing against Slovenia in February.
“I’ve always wanted to play for Scotland and I just want to do my best and hopefully I can bring something to the team,” he said.
“This is the second time I’ve been called up so hopefully I can play in the game and do well. With every trip, you are looking to do better and better and hopefully stay in the manager’s plans.
“Hopefully I can do that on this trip and see what happens.”
Mulgrew is keen to make a positive impact ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in September.
He added: “It would be great to be involved in those games.
“I’ve watched a lot of them on TV and I’ve always been desperate to be involved.
“Hopefully I can be involved in this one and then just take it one game at a time.”
The clash with the USA may have come at the end of a long, hard season but Mulgrew says it is a challenge everyone is relishing.
He said: “Everybody is up for it. It doesn’t matter when it comes around.
“To play for your national team, you’ve got to be ready for it and you’ve got to be up for it.”
Four of Scotland’s five World Cup qualifying away games will be screened live by BBC Scotland.
The corporation announced they had agreed deals to show the games in Belgium on October 16 followed by matches against Serbia, Croatia and Macedonia next year.
Scotland’s first away opponents, Wales, have a deal with Sky Sports to show their home games.