Mackail-Smith's chance to impress new Scotland boss (From The Argus)

Mackail-Smith's chance to impress new Scotland boss

9:30am Tuesday 22nd January 2013 in Sport By Andy Naylor

Craig Mackail-Smith can revive his Scotland career tonight

ALBION marksman Craig Mackail-Smith gets the chance to revive his Scotland career tonight – by impressing Gordon Strachan.

New Scotland chief Strachan and his assistant, former Seagulls boss Mark McGhee, will be at Ewood Park for the clash against Blackburn Rovers.

Their attendance also gives Liam Bridcutt and captain Gordon Greer an opportunity to press their international claims.

Mackail-Smith missed out towards the end of the reign of previous Scotland manager Craig Levein as Rovers’ top scorer Jordan Rhodes came to the fore.

Strachan can compare notes on the centre forward rivals as he prepares for his first match in charge against Estonia in a friendly next month.

It also means Bridcutt, who qualifies for Scotland through a grandparent, gets another chance to catch the eye.

The defensive midfielder, outstanding for Albion again this season, shone in the FA Cup victory against Newcastle at The Amex, watched by Strachan in his previous role as an ITV pundit.

McGhee was keeping tabs on Greer as well during a spell scouting for Scotland, so the 32-year-old centre half’s return to Rovers, where he started his career in England, could boost his international prospects if he helps keep Rhodes quiet.

Victory against beleaguered Blackburn in the rearranged fixture, washed out in December, will move Albion to within two points and a place of the Championship play-offs and extend their unbeaten run in 2013 to five games ahead of Arsenal's FA Cup visit on Saturday.

The Seagulls were still waiting last night for new signing Leonardo Ulloa’s international clearance, which delayed the Argentinian target man’s debut at Birmingham on Saturday.