Football: Injured Burley out of Scotland side

Saturday 08 February 1997 00:02 GMT
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Craig Burley, the Chelsea midfielder struggling with an ankle injury, will miss Scotland's World Cup qualifying match against Estonia in Monaco next week. Craig Brown, the Scotland coach, has no plans at the moment to bring in cover for Burley in his 27-man squad.

His captain, Coventry's Gary McAllister, missed training for the second day because of a bruised foot. McAllister is trying anti-inflammatory tablets and physiotherapy to cure the problem.

In today's League programme, Hamish French, the Dunfermline midfielder, believes his club can change the habits of the season at home to Rangers to further their survival hopes in the Premier Division. Dunfermline have conceded 25 goals to Rangers and Celtic in six meetings since promotion. "We don't fear anyone at East End Park and playing Rangers is a big one to look forward to," French said.

Rangers will be without Paul Gascoigne, away with England, and Sebastian Rozental, while Brian Laudrup and Jorg Albertz will have fitness tests.

Dundee United are hopeful that their goalkeeper Sieb Dykstra will be fit after flu for the home tie against Hibernian. United have won eight matches in a row with Dykstra. Darren Jackson's hamstring injury is causing concern but he should be available. Hibernian will again be without John Hughes and Rab Shannon.

Hearts entertain Kilmarnock at Tynecastle with John Robertson looking for the single goal to equal Jimmy Wardhaugh's club record of 206. Kilmarnock hope their leading scorer Paul Wright is fit after flu.

The Finnish midfielder Simo Valikarri, who has joined Motherwell for the rest of the season, may make his debut. Aberdeen have the Bulgarian pair Ilian Kiriakov and Tzanko Tzvetanov in their squad, but Stewart McKimmie is one of five players injured.

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