THE names do not roll off the tongue easily in an international context - Andy McLaren, Charlie Miller, John O'Neil, Stephen Caldwell - but there is every chance all of them will be wearing a Scotland shirt at one time or another in the unlikely setting of the WKS Zawisza Stadium against Poland in Bydgoszcz tonight.

Miller is certain to be capped for the first time, McLaren will be on at one point to make his national debut, maybe even the start, and the other two, the 29-year-old O'Neil and the 20-year-old Caldwell, may be called from the bench to collect their first recognition at this level, if the circumstances allow.

This is all the consequence of a depleted squad which was further reduced when Steven Pressley failed to pass a fitness test.

His withdrawal is the reason that Caldwell, the under-21 defender whose brother, Gary, is also in the younger squad, was promoted to the bench for the senior side. ''It would be super optimistic to reckon that Stephen is ready for international football,'' said Craig Brown, the manager, ''but he is one for the future.It will do him no harm to be blooded in the group and maybe on the park.''

The young man himself had a slightly bewildered look, ''shocked but delighted.'' He has been with Newcastle United since he was 16, but thought he was on the way out 18 months ago when manager Bobby Robson put him on the transfer list.

''I owe a big thanks to Tommy Craig for helping me through that time by encouraging me. I must have done something right because I have played for the first team 10 times this season.''

Miller, a more seasoned pro, was just about as pleased with himself as he talked of his place in the squad after a career that had slumped when he went to Watford from Rangers. Asked if, a year ago, he could have envisaged playing in the national side, he replied: ''I couldn't envisage getting a reserve game with Watford. It was a mistake to leave Rangers. I should have seen out the two-and-a-half years left of my contract.

''I was down there with my wife and kids but all I did was come home moaning about not getting a game. Luckily, the gaffer (Alex Smith of Dundee United) came in for me.''

If his rehabilitation is remarkable, it still pales alongside the recovery from the depths of alcoholism displayed by McLaren whose call-up will be completed by his first national cap at 27. ''Andy will play but neither he nor Miller is in there on sentiment. They are deserving of their caps,'' said Brown.

The same could be said for a man making a welcome return after three years out of the international limelight, Scott Booth, now with Twente Enschede in Holland.

''I hadn't thought that I would ever come back but decided to get stuck into my club football and try to make an impact in Holland,'' said the striker, who won 17 caps as an Aberdeen player. ''I think there is a bit of the out-of-sight, out-of-mind thing when you play abroad. Even Paul Lambert was only brought in near the end of the season when he was playing for Borussia Dortmund. I think you need to be doing spectacular things.''

Booth is revelling in the role that has revitalised his career in Holland, as the link just behind the front man, but he doesn't mind what role Brown may have in mind for him. The chances are that it will be the same one, just behind Billy Dodds.

O'Neil, the Hibs midfielder, is likely to be on the bench but is equally likely to be called on at some point. ''I am still fiddling with the selection and shape we will have,'' said Brown, whose preference is for a three-at-the-back system.

l AN error by goalkeeper Ryan Esson was enough to give Poland's Under-21 a 1-0 success against their Scottish counterparts last night.

Esson, the Aberdeen keeper, dropped the ball at the feet of striker Grzegorz Rasiek, who accepted the gift with open arms and shot home his team's winner.