Gallacher illness causes Brown to rethink line-up

Gallacher is out of the game against Colombia at the Giants' Stadium tonight and the front line pairing Brown will use has Gordon Durie alongside Jackson.

Yesterday, before training at the stadium, Brown explained: ''Kevin was sick this morning and very shivery. At first, we thought he had gone down with food poisoning. But now the doctor has examined him and while the lad is not well it does not seem to be too serious.

''However, it is serious enough to have him remain in bed and miss out on training and there is obviously no chance whatsoever that he will be able to play in the first match here.''

Gallacher - and the goalkeeping position apart -Brown's team which he named yesterday for the first of the two warm-up games in the USA is one which many observers might see as the strongest he has available. It is:

Sullivan (Wimbledon), Calderwood (Tottenham Hotspur), Hendry (Blackburn Rovers), Boyd, McNamara, Burley, Lambert (all Celtic), Collins (Monaco), Dailly (Derby County), Durie (Rangers), Jackson (Celtic).

The Scots' manager denies that this will be the side which will face Brazil in the opener to the tournament next month. And, of course, Gallacher will be in and Sullivan will be out. Brown, though, had decided to give the Wimbledon goalkeeper a game in the first match and had announced that before leaving home earlier this week.

There are five Celtic players in the team, reflecting their domestic successes over the past season and Craig Burley is getting his wish to play in a more central midfield area rather than the wide right slot where Brown has so often used him in the past.

Said Brown: ''Craig won't be playing in exactly the same role as with his club but it will be very near to it. Please remember that we have played him there before he ever signed for Celtic. For example he was in that position when we played against Sweden at Ibrox in the qualifying game and he was also there with the Under-21 team.

''In any case we have Jackie McNamara with us and as he plays there for his club it is logical to use him. Incidentally, Jackie was telling us that the ankle injury which troubled him almost all through last season has now cleared up completely after a little bit of rest.

''John Collins did extra work yesterday and his toe injury has cleared up, as well. Kevin is our one real problem and it's only tem-porary.''

Jackson's choice ahead of such as Scott Booth emphasises Brown's admiration for the player who has fought back from a brain operation.While he was left out of the end of season games by his club Brown did not forget him.

Jackson admitted: ''I don't think I did myself justice in the last two games even though I did score. Now I have to take this opportunity and use it to repay Craig for the faith he has shown in me. I owe him that.

''I know there are people who think I should have been left out of the squad and I have to show that I am worth the position. It is up to me now. I have the jersey and I want to hold on to it.

''It's just a pity that Kevin and I won't be playing together because I felt we formed a good partnership, especially in that match against Austria at Celtic Park.

''Still, we may play together in the second game. I know everyone back home is thinking about the Brazil game, but, for us, the players, it all starts here in the States.

''We can't just think that we can go out on to the field against the Brazilians and turn the key and start playing. We have to get down to work here and that's what we shall be doing. I suppose my confidence was down a little when I was left out of the two last matches Celtic had to play but this has given me the boost I needed.''

Brown rates tonight's opposition highly and has been studying them on video.

He is almost certain of the team they will choose - but if it varies in personnel it won't vary in its tactical approach.

He stressed: ''They're a team who can knock in a few goals and their qualifying record was good but they are a little bit vulnerable at the back. Their keeper Oscar Cordoba can be brilliant at times but he can also give away daft goals. I think the word for him is erratic. They will play a 4-2-2-2 formation with the big defender Bermudez organising things at the back. Rincon and Valderrama will be the attacking midfield players and Asprilla and De Avila will be up front. They are a formidable attacking force and we have to be prepared for that. They don't play in the same way as Brazil do but this is still a rehearsal because we have to work on how to handle South American opposition.''

The new FIFA rules on the refereeing of games look sure to apply and, again, that is something the players must adapt to before the matches in France begin.