BURLEY UNFAZED BY FOREIGN EXITS

Burley - reckons his job will be easier.

Scotland manager George Burley does not believe Scottish football will suffer as a result of losing top quality foreign players.

In fact, Burley is hoping the imminent departure of Carlos Cuellar to the Barclays Premier League will make his own job easier.

Rangers have agreed a fee of £7.8million with Aston Villa for the defender, with the Spaniard citing his international ambitions as the reason behind his decision to quit the Scottish Premier League.

Such comments may send out a negative message about the standard of football north of the border.

But Burley insists there are positives to take from losing a player who was crowned player of the year by the Scottish Football Writers' Association and sponsors Clydesdale Bank just a few months ago.

"It will maybe give Scottish players an opportunity," he said.

"My job is to try to help clubs produce Scottish players and give them an opportunity to play for their country.

"If they get opportunities for their clubs, especially on a big stage with a team like Rangers, that can only be good for the Scottish game.

"Finances in England are huge because of the TV money and the income they bring in - that's the reality.

"Players do leave but good players come in as well. The SPL is a very competitive league, it was tremendous last season going to the last game and there was some exciting football.

"I'm sure it won't be any different this year."

Burley has named his squad to face Northern Ireland in a friendly at Hampden later this month and insists he will once again be able to cope without skipper Barry Ferguson.

Rangers have struggled badly without their captain, who was ruled out for up to four months after undergoing ankle surgery in the summer.

But, with Scott Brown, Darren Fletcher, Paul Hartley, Barry Robson and Kevin Thomson all included in the 24-man squad, Burley claims to be spoiled for choice in midfield.

He continued: "I said at the time when Barry got injured that it would be a huge loss for Scottish football, both for Rangers and for Scotland.

"It has been shown how much Rangers have missed him but we can't do anything about it.

"Barry is working hard on his rehabilitation and hopefully he will have a speedy recovery but he has to be right before he can play and that could be another couple of months.

"We have other players in our squad who we feel are very capable. In that department, I've still got selection problems in terms of who to leave out so we've got players who can fill that role.

"As a country, we are fortunate to have so many outstanding midfield players. I think I've got the midfield squad to cope, while Rangers got a few injuries at the worst possible time for them."

There were first call-ups for Falkirk's Darren Barr and Derby County winger Kris Commons, while Callum Davidson was recalled to the squad for the first time since 2002.

Rangers trio Lee McCulloch, David Weir and Christian Dailly were all omitted but Burley insists their absence this time around does not necessarily mean they will not be involved in next month's World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Iceland.

"We have a number of older players, with experience, who I know can do the job," he explained.

"Certainly for the World Cup qualifiers, I'll have a look at things and it might be a case of bringing more experience in.

"None of these players have been ruled out but I've taken the opportunity to bring younger players in to have a look at, knowing I'll probably bring one or two more experienced players in for the World Cup qualifiers."

Asked what he hopes to take from the visit of Northern Ireland on August 20, Burley added: "We've brought a few new players into the squad and the game is only two-and-a-half weeks before the World Cup qualifiers start.

"I'll be looking for a positive game in terms of hopefully winning the game, which I think would be important, and in terms of being a bit more positive in our attacking play.

"I watched Northern Ireland on video beating Georgia 4-1 and they were excellent so it's going to be a tough game. I know they are bringing 5,000 or 6,000 fans and I'm sure there will be a good turn-out.

"I'm certainly looking for a positive game. We will take the opportunity to have a look at one or two players but the nucleus of the squad for the Macedonia game will be playing.

"I might introduce one or two experienced players for the World Cup but there won't be major changes.

"We have the nucleus of an outstanding team - but we have to be that bit more positive."