JOHN McGinlay was given no guarantees when he flew out on Scotland's World Cup double mission today.

The in-form Wanderers striker answered Craig Brown's SOS and teamed up with Crystal Palace hot shot Dougie Freedman to ease the Scots' injury worries as they prepare for the qualifiers in Latvia tomorrow and Estonia next Wednesday.

But as Nathan Blake looked destined for a place on the subs bench for Wales' qualifier against Holland in Cardiff, McGinlay appeared destined for a similar role for the Scots.

Brown, who has lost the services of Gordon Durie, Ally McCoist and Kevin Gallacher, has hinted that neither Freedman nor McGinlay will start in Latvia.

He said: "I am very excited about the prospect of them joining the squad because I know their capabilities, but when it comes to the starting line-up neither player will jump ahead of those who were here originally.

"I have had to be quite ruthless here in the interests of Scotland by deciding to enforce the FIFA rule that they must both come with us and both managers (Colin Todd and Dave Bassett) have understood the situation.

"I have brought in an experienced and young player, both of whom are scoring goals at the moment so my options are no longer limited."

Brown's comments give fuel to suggestions that his starting strike force for the first game will consist of Aberdeen striker Billy Dodds and John Spencer of Chelsea.

Brown is looking to win both games in an effort to keep the pressure on Sweden who head the group and he added: "We'll have to be very vigilant, although I'm sure we will give an excellent account of ourselves against Latvia.

"I hope we can produce the easy victory the fans are expecting and while we will be going to make that happen, we won't make excuses for being without half a top team.

"After the game we are judged as a Scottish team and not a Scottish team without several players."

Brown is expecting contrasting challenges from the respective opponents.

He added: "A 0-0 draw or narrow defeat would please Estonia whereas Latvia will try to come and score."

Wanderers skipper Gudni Bergesson will equal Iceland's 70 cap International record when he captains his country in tomorrow's World Cup Qualifier in Lithuania.

But his Burnden team-mate Gerry Taggart is not included in the Northern Ireland starting line-up for their qualifier against Armenia in Belfast and will have to settle for a place on the subs bench.

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