RAB DOUGLAS had a hand in the career of David Marshall.

It was a right hook. Allegedly. The Cardiff City goalkeeper has become first choice for Gordon Strachan, emphasising his competence with a fine display in the 2-1 defeat by Germany in Dortmund on Sunday, but he was given his first break as Big Rab threatened to inflict a fracture of another sort on an adversary in the Celtic Park tunnel.

As a 19-year-old, Marshall came on at half-time in Celtic's 1-0 victory over Barcelona in March 2004 after Douglas had been dismissed following an altercation in the tunnel with Thiago Motta.

"That was the night myself and Bobo formed a tag team in the tunnel," said Douglas yesterday of joining Balde of that ilk in a disagreement with the Brazilian. His red card allowed Marshall the opportunity to deny Ronaldinho, Xavi and co for 45 minutes as Alan Thompson scored the only goal.

Douglas, who appealed against the sending-off, citing his role as a "peacemaker, missed the return leg of the UEFA Cup fourth-round tie in Barcelona where Marshall produced a performance in Camp Nou in a goalless draw that was worthy of the description heroic. The youngster was so under siege it was as if he was auditioning for the Michael Caine role in Zulu, giving an imperious response to facing the heaviest of odds.

Ten years on he is firmly in the national team and his performances at Cardiff City led to links in the close season with top sides in the Barclays Premier League. But Douglas, who made the draw for the Petrofac Cup at Hampden's Hall of Fame yesterday, saw those saves in Barcelona as the most significant in his countryman's career.

"It was sink or swim for him that night," he said. "I wanted him to do okay - but he was sensational. That's his temperament shining through. I couldn't say anything to him that night and still can't - he's played at the Nou Camp and I haven't. I did say don't try and change anything or chase the game."

Marshall made three brilliant saves in the first 20 minutes and defied Barcelona as the Catalan attacks became more desperate.

"That night in Barcelona I was one of the proudest guys around for him. If it had ended up 9-0 then it would have been mine or Bobo's fault for being sent off in the first leg. But the main thing was he came through unscathed and went on to better things."

Ironically, given his present pre-eminence in the national pecking order, Marshall fell out of favour under Strachan's tenure at Parkhead and left to join Norwich City, initially on loan, in 2007.

"All goalies have a few bumps along the way," said Douglas, whose career also encompassed such as Livingston, Leicester City and Dundee, and who is now coaching and playing at Forfar Athletic.

But he believed Marshall always had what was necessary to succeed. "He was always very tidy and keen to work and had safe hands. Whoever Marsh's goalie coach at Cardiff is will be pleased to have him but I know Terry Gennoe worked really hard with him at Celtic in those early days. It's a credit to Terry and Marshy's attitude."

His constant improvement has given him the No.1 jersey ahead of both Craig Gordon of Celtic and Allan McGregor of Hull City.

"What a calibre of goalies - it's probably his biggest headache at the moment," said Douglas of the selection decision facing Strachan. I don't think Marshy has done anything to lose the jersey," he said. "He's been in and has been consistent and it's his to lose for the long-term."

Marshall's first selection for a squad was in 2004 and he has won only 12 caps. He has therefore been patient under trying circumstances and was also involved in a couple of heavy defeats for the national team.

"But then you saw him week in week out last season at Cardiff and you can understand why big clubs were having a sniff about him," said Douglas. "He carried that form into Sunday night. Had he made mistakes there would have been a call for Greegsy or Craig - you know that's life as a goalie. You are always under major scrutiny.

"He did everything superbly well. He feels comfy and has grown into a Scotland jersey. I think Gordon Strachan and Jim Stewart will have had discussions and my view is that Marshy is in there on merit and it's his to lose."

The likelihood is that, barring injury or a sudden loss of form, Marshall will retain the jersey for the match against Georgia next month at Ibrox.

With both the Republic of Ireland and England playing Scotland at Celtic Park in November, there just might be the chance for Marshall to reflect on that night 10 years ago when what happened in a tunnel proved the pathway to an international career.