CALLUM Davidson could be ruled out of Scotland's big Euro 2000 play-off clash with England at Hampden on Saturday.

The Blackburn Rovers defender is struggling to shake off a niggling hamstring strain and faces a race against time to be fit for the Battle of Britain.

Davidson felt his hamstring tighten during training with the Rovers squad at Brockhall last week.

The 23-year-old full-back did take a full part in training yesterday and Scotland boss Craig Brown is confident he will make it.

But the injury is clearly still causing the Rovers man a few problems.

"It's a little bit sore at the minute," said Davidson, speaking exclusively to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph from the Scotland team hotel.

"It was really tight during training last week and I can still feel it a bit now so I can't really say what my chances are at this stage.

"Hamstrings are never the easiest things to call at the best of times.

"But I'll be assessing the situation over the next day or so during training and hopefully it will clear up in time."

Davidson is desperate to line up alongside Rovers team-mate Christian Dailly in the Scottish defence for one of the biggest games in his country's history.

And he is not daunted by the prospect of coming up against England strike duo Alan Shearer and Michael Owen.

"Everybody is really relaxed at the moment and we are not thinking too much about the game because it's a bit early yet," added Davidson.

"But we're ready for it." However, the Scottish international would not be drawn on the subject of being left out by Rovers caretaker boss Tony Parkes against Ipswich.

Asked if he was axed because of his hamstring problem, Davidson replied: "You'll have to ask Tony Parkes about that."

But Parkes has confirmed only Craig Short was missing at the weekend because of injury.

Meanwhile, Jeff Kenna and Jason McAteer's chances of making the starting line up for the Republic of Ireland's clash with Turkey in Dublin appear to be fading fast.

The Rovers duo were called into the squad at the last minute following the late withdrawals of injured duo Mark Kennedy and Gary Kelly.

But manager Mick McCarthy has received a triple injury boost with just two days to go before their big game at Lansdowne Road. Veteran defender Denis Irwin is confident he will take his place in the side after receiving constant treatment on a knee injury.

And both Wimbledon defender Kenny Cunningham, and Leeds utility man Ian Harte, are reported to have made further improvements in their race for fitness.

McCarthy remains cautious but admitted of Cunningham and Harte: "Both lads are desperately keen to play in this game but we will see how they progress in training later in the week."

Should they come through then Kenna and McAteer may have to settle for places on the bench.

In the meantime, Rovers' Irish quintet - which also comprises Damien Duff, Lee Carsley and Alan Kelly - joined the rest of McCarthy's squad in a 24-hour "get away from it all" break at the luxurious Kilkea Castle Hotel in Kildare today.

But it's back to more intensive preparations in Dublin tomorrow.

Back home, there was no change today in the race to find a successor for axed Rovers boss Brian Kidd.

Tony Parkes remains in charge of team affairs and he travelled to London earlier this week to cast his eye over Rovers next opponents Fulham during their game with Portsmouth on Tuesday.

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