BURLEY HAS FAITH IN DEFENSIVE DUO

McManus - one of established pairing.

Scotland manager George Burley has told Stephen McManus and Gary Caldwell they have already made the central defensive partnership their own.

Now he has challenged them to emulate the success enjoyed by Alex McLeish and Willie Miller in the 1980s.

McLeish and Miller struck up a pairing which proved to be just as effective on the international stage as it was at Aberdeen - and Burley wants the same from the Celtic duo.

He said: "It's important we keep progressing, it's important we bring young players through.

"We've brought in young Darren Barr, Christophe Berra - two young centre-halves for the future.

"But Stephen McManus and Gary Caldwell have I feel established themselves as the centre-half pairing.

"I saw them on Sunday and they are playing regularly. Hopefully they'll be the sort of partnership McLeish and Miller were in the 80s.

"They do it for their club and hopefully they can do it for their country."

David Weir's name was missing from Tuesday's 24-man squad to face Northern Ireland later this month but Burley insists the veteran Rangers defender can still do a job for Scotland.

He added: "We've got other people like David Weir who certainly hasn't come out of the equation.

"For the World Cup I may add that bit of experience but for a friendly game at Hampden it's nice to bring in one or two younger players.

"Gary and Stephen have played in the two games I've had so far and they deservedly keep their place.

"I'll keep the young ones in the squad or bring someone like David in if one of the two of them get injured.

"David's 38 now. He's been a credit - it's unbelievable what he's done. He's still going to play a lot of games for Rangers.

"I'm very happy with my pairing but we need back up and cover."

Burley has plenty of options at the back and claims to be spoiled for choice in the middle of the park as well.

While Rangers are clearly suffering from the loss of skipper Barry Ferguson to injury, the Scotland boss insists players like Scott Brown can more than make up for the absence of the national team captain.

"I'm a big Scott Brown fan," he said.

"As a player he has ability. As far as discipline is concerned, sometimes he can be a bit rash with his tackles.

"I watched him on Sunday and I don't think he committed a foul. He was absolutely outstanding. He's a tremendous player.

"He does get too many bookings and he goes to ground at times too easily but he's learning. I think he's a true international player and he's going to be in my squad.

"These days in football you need to stay on your feet. Referees get their yellow cards out even when you win the ball.

"Players in general have got to get used to that. Twenty years ago you could do that - you could do the sliding tackles. Scott's capable of staying on his feet.

"He needs his enthusiasm and his quality. He's excellent. He's international class.

"That's always been my opinion when I watched him with Hibs and with Celtic. Scott's got so much energy and quality he can play anywhere."