Scott Booth, the former Aber-deen striker, played his way back into the World Cup reckoning last night after a fine display in a makeshift but willing and able Scottish team in the 1-1 draw with Poland in Bydgoszcz.

The Twente Enschede player scored the equalising goal from the penalty spot and overall looked sharp and mobile, enough to persuade Craig Brown, the Scotland manager, that he had done enough to be ready for a comeback to his country's World Cup pool.

''I thought that he was excellent without getting great supply,'' said Brown, who added: ''and I will certainly be off now to Holland to check on his form before we get back to playing the World Cup qualifiers in September.

''I felt that his attitude and work-rate were very good.''

Booth, himself, was thrilled to hear of Brown's assessment: ''That will make me work all the harder with my club to get the chance,'' he said.

''It was great to be back in the squad and I thought that everyone did well tonight.''

Brown was equally pleased that all of the seven new players who took part last night did not let him down.

He was particularly happy with the performance of Barry Nicholson, the Dunfermline defender. ''He gives us options on that side and it means he'll be pushing for a place in the midfield.''

Scotland discovered that Poland were in a less than friendly frame of mind, and in fact they had their midfielder Tomasz Iwan sent off late in the game after two yellow-card offences.

Said Brown: ''It was quite clear they didn't think it was a meaningless game and nor did we. They were up to all sorts of elbowing and other tricks, but that's part of the game. Young Stephen Caldwell was upset about some of the treatment he received, but the experience out there will have done him a huge amount of good.

''He is not quite ready for international football but he did really well to negate their substitute Radoslaw Kaluzny, who had caught us out with his height when he scored their goal.

''I felt overall the players made me proud. None of the new men failed us, and as well as Booth, it would be silly to discount a few others making their way into the World Cup pool.''

Kenny Miller was the only player who ended with an injury. Brown said that he was getting treatment for a knee knock which was caused by the reckless foul by Iwan which brought his red card. ''Kenny doesn't believe he will be fit by the weekend for Rangers, and that is disappointing and the only debit factor, although he has not been first choice for his club recently.'' Brown had various encouraging words for others, like Gavin Rae and John O'Neil but the overall bonus for him was the unearthing of some genuine fresh candidates for the senior squad.

Brown felt that the game in some respects was a good deal better than some qualifying matches. ''Both teams were anxious to win and to do as well as we did in Poland with so many players missing was very encouraging indeed.''

Booth was also full of praise for his team-mates in what was a patchwork side. ''I thought they showed a lot of character because it is difficult when you are away from home and a goal down. I wanted to show what I could still do here, especially after coming back following three years out of the international scene.

''Even so, I felt I didn't have anything to lose which was one of the reasons I volunteered to take any penalties at half-time. Billy Dodds and Colin Cameron were first and second choice but they were off by then and so I offered to take any that came about. I'm glad I did now. It was definitely a penalty because I was nudged from behind but you don't always get them.''

Booth has now scored six goals in his 18 games for his country but it now looks as if he will get a number of further opportunities.