SCOTS CLASH ROUSES WORTHINGTON

Worthington - excited by Hampden clash.

Nigel Worthington is excited at the prospect of facing Scotland at Hampden Park next week.

The Northern Ireland manager has a particular affection for matches between the home nations after winning the first of his 66 caps for the province in the former British Championship back in May 1984.

Northern Ireland drew 1-1 against Wales thanks to a goal from Gerry Armstrong at Swansea's Vetch Field and that point was enough to secure the trophy for all time as the tournament was then scrapped.

Worthington is now looking forward to taking a 20-man squad to Glasgow next week and renewing old rivalries.

The last time the teams met was in 1992 when Scotland secured a 1-0 victory in a friendly at Hampden.

Worthington said: "To have one of the old British Championship games back is great for supporters, players and managers.

"The match is billed as a friendly but are there any friendlies in football?

"Hopefully it will be a good occasion and from my point of view it gives me a look at my group ahead of the game against Slovakia."

That fixture in Bratislava on September 6 is Northern Ireland's opening World Cup qualifier and Worthington is anxious to get off to a good start.

Much will again depend on the form of striker David Healy going into the new campaign.

He scored an all-time record 13 goals in a Euro 2008 qualifying campaign in which Northern Ireland finished third in their group behind eventual winners Spain and Sweden.

But while he is a regular for Northern Ireland, his future at Fulham looks uncertain following the arrivals of Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora.

Worthington, who worked alongside Healy at Norwich, is convinced the player will remain focussed.

He said: "It is always good to be playing but we will have to see what happens at Fulham with David now they have signed more strikers.

"However, knowing David like I do, he will get his head down. He will carry on with his work in training and if he gets a chance show what he can do in games."