Stephen Pearson, the Celtic midfielder, has been left out of the Scotland squad to face Hungary in a Hampden Park friendly on Wednesday night.

The 21-year-old has greatly impressed for Martin O'Neill's side following last winter's move from Motherwell, but pulled out of the last four international friendlies because of injury and now finds that the players who had been given chances to impress in those games have kept their places.

Captain Barry Ferguson makes an instant return after recovering from a broken kneecap eight months ago but instead of joining Pearson alongside Manchester United's Darren Fletcher, it is Portsmouth's Nigel Quashie who will start against the Hungarians, with Fratton Park team-mate Richard Hughes also set to do the same.

Vogts will monitor Pearson's form closely but only injuries to other players over the weekend will earn him an elevation from a nine-man standby list which also contains Rangers striker Steven Thompson. Celtic goalkeeper David Marshall is the only newcomer to the squad. Gary Naysmith, the Everton defender, has also rejoined the fold after an injury-hit season last year.

lThe Scotland under-21 coach Rainer Bonhof has called up Hibernian midfielder Steven Whittaker for the first time for next week's friendly international against Hungary.

The German has named an almost unchanged group of players for the game in the Dunaferr Stadium, Dunaujvaros on Wednesday.

Bonhof named a strong-looking squad including Celtic's in-form duo Craig Beattie and Ross Wallace, Rangers defender Alan Hutton and Blackburn striker Paul Gallagher.

squads

Senior. Goalkeepers Gallacher (Norwich City), Gordon (Hearts), Marshall (Celtic), Shearer (Coventry City) Defenders G Caldwell (Hibernian), S Caldwell (Sunderland), Dailly (West Ham), McNamara (Celtic), McNamee (Livingston), Pressley (Hearts), Webster (Hearts) Midfielders Cameron (Wolves), Ferguson (Blackburn Rvrs), Fletcher (Manchester United), Holt (Norwich City), Hughes (Portsmouth), Naysmith (Everton), Quashie (Portsmouth) Strikers Crawford (Plymouth A), Dickov (Blackburn Rvrs), Gray (Sheffield Utd), Kyle (Sunderland), McFadden (Everton), Miller (Wolves)

Under-21s. Goalkeepers Samson (Kilmarnock), Smith (Rangers), Turner (Everton) Defenders Diamond (Aberdeen), Dowie (Partick Th), Hutton (Rangers), Robertson (Nottingham Forest), Whittaker (Hibernian), Wilson (Dundee Utd) Midfielders Brown (Hibernian), Foy (Liverpool), Lappin (St Mirren), McCunnie (Ross County), Morrison (Aberdeen) Strikers Riordan (Hibernian), Sweeney (Millwall), Beattie (Celtic), Boyd (Kilmarnock), Clarkson (Motherwell), Gallagher (Blackburn), Prunty (Inverness CT), Wallace (Celtic)