FEENEY WANTS TO FACE SCOTLAND

Feeney - confidence boost.

Warren Feeney is eager to start for Northern Ireland against Scotland on Wednesday as he claims his confidence is growing by the day at Dundee United.

The industrious striker, on a season-long loan deal from Cardiff, helped Craig Levein's side to a morale-boosting draw with Celtic on Sunday.

Now Feeney is anxious to return to international action at Hampden Park and partner David Healy as Rangers' Kyle Lafferty is sidelined with a hamstring problem.

The 27-year-old's ambition is to get games under his belt after a frustrating time at Cardiff where his progress was hampered by injury.

Feeney said: "I am enjoying my football again. We have a good manager (Levein) who is keen to get things going and take the club forward.

"He wants to challenge the Old Firm and although we have only played two games I do not see why we cannot do that.

"Celtic are champions and a huge club. But at the end of the day it is 11 against 11 and I do not care who it is.

"That's what I believe and the way I treat every game. As a player you want to play against big teams and big games.

"Now I know a bit about Celtic and hopefully that experience will help me against Scotland, should I get a chance."

Levein thought Roy O'Donovan was denied a penalty that could have changed the game and Feeney said: "We felt robbed.

"However that is football and you cannot go on about it. These things happen and you have to move on. We will certainly take a lot of positives from the match."

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington is using the friendly as a pointer to the opening World Cup qualifier against Slovakia in Bratislava on September 4.

The province narrowly missed out on Euro 2008, finishing behind eventual winners Spain and Sweden in qualifying.

Feeney believes it is important to hit the ground running.

He said: "Everyone will be looking to put down a marker against Scotland with the campaign coming up.

"It gives the fringe players a good chance to get in there and perhaps leave the manager with something to think about with the qualifier to come in three weeks.

"We will not be treating it as a friendly against Scotland as we want to get into good habits and win this game."

Feeney has scored three goals in 24 matches for Northern Ireland and is immensely patriotic.

He said: "I love playing for my country. It is the highlight of any player's career. It would be great to start but that is the manager's decision.

"The fact we are playing one of the home nations in Scotland makes it special as well and something I would love to be part of."

Feeney has swapped Cardiff for Carnoustie, where he is now based.

"Dundee United is a good club and my family are settled, " he said.

"Mind you I have never played as much golf in my life!"