FORMER Scotland captain Gary McAllister yesterday predicted a bright future at international level for his new Liverpool colleague Dominic Matteo after helping alert manager Craig Brown to his availability.
Anfield defender Matteo has been lined up to feature for Scotland in the next World Cup qualifying campaign and beyond - despite caps for England at youth, under-21, and B level.
It was recent Liverpool recruit McAllister, who retired from Scotland duty last year, who tipped off national coach Brown about Dumfries-born Matteo's willingness to play for the country of his birth.
McAllister said: ''I wouldn't go as far as to say I was instrumental in Dominic becoming involved with Scotland, but I played a small part in making it happen.
''We are both looked after by the same agent (Struan Marshall), who contacted me to let me know Dominic wanted to play for Scotland, so I was in touch with Craig Brown from there.
''It was just a case of letting him know what Dominic's intentions were and now it looks like he will be picked for the start of the World Cup qualifiers, where I'm sure he'll do a job for Scotland.''
Matteo, 26, has never played a competitive international for England, who he qualified for on his mother's side, and therefore he is eligible to switch allegiances.
McAllister said: ''He's a very talented player and the fact he has been in the England squad before, only to have to pull out through injury each time, is testament to his quality.''
Matteo moved to Southport at the age of four and was offered his chance at Liverpool by Kenny Dalglish, who spotted him playing as a youngster at Birkdale United.
Brown, currently at Euro 2000, is short of left-sided defenders, given the relative inexperience of Hearts' Gary Naysmith and Blackburn's Callum Davidson, making Matteo a potentially key addition to his squad. Brown said: ''I have spoken to Dominic Matteo twice and I think he will fill a gap for us in the left-back role which has caused a few problems in the recent past.''
nCARLISLE United's new manager, Ian Atkins, hopes to persuade old pal Ally McCoist to sign for the Brunton Park club for the new season.
Atkins is a former Sunderland team-mate of McCoist's, and the pair shared a house when they were at Roker Park. Now he hopes that friendship will help persuade the former Scotland, Rangers, and Kilmarnock striker to cross the border once again at the age of 37.
Said Atkins: ''Ally has not got anything definite arranged for next season and he still definitely wants to play football.
''I used to live with him at Sunderland and, hopefully, I have enough sway to persuade him to come and have a crack at Carlisle.
''He wants to come down and have a chat. I'm not saying we will definitely sign him, but he has guaranteed to come down and give us the opportunity to speak to him. We will keep our fingers crossed that he makes the move.
''He is still a good goalscorer and his presence here would give everyone at the club a terrific lift for the coming season. His television work at Euro 2000 goes on for another two weeks and then we will get him down here. At least it's a start.''
nHIBERNIAN have handed season ticket holders a free game to compensate for the lack of pre- season friendlies at Easter Road this summer.
The building of a new main stand has meant that Hibs will play no build-up matches at home.
Normally, one home pre-season fixture makes up the 20 games that season ticket holders get for their money over the season.
However, Easter Road officials have now decided to make the club's first CIS Insurance Cup tie at home free entry for all their
season ticket holders.
