Burns throws hat into ring for Scotland coach's job

It is one of the least enviable jobs in international football but after just four days as caretaker manager of Scotland, Tommy Burns has already thrown his tam-o'-shanter into the ring for the permanent post.

Burns, who will take charge of this month's friendly with Sweden, said: "It is something that I would consider and I am probably in pole position. I have a good relationship with the players and I am older now than when I was in management."

Burns was Berti Vogts' assistant until the German resigned on Monday and revealed Vogts was backing him ahead of Walter Smith and Gordon Strachan. He was given another boost yesterday when the Norwich midfielder Gary Holt decided not to quit the national side.

Burns old club, Celtic, will be without Bobo Balde and Chris Sutton for tomorrow's Bank of Scotland Premier League game against Kilmarnock. Balde missed the Champions' League win over Shakhtar Donetsk with a shoulder injury which will again keep him out.

Sutton has been out with a chest-shoulder muscle problem and he, too, will miss the champions' latest test.

The Rangers striker Dado Prso is set to miss the League trip to Livingston on Sunday. The Croatia international had eight stitches in a forehead injury after the win over Aberdeen last week and is unlikely to play.