Levein eyes Davidson and McCarthy

Last updated : 24 January 2010 By BBC Sport

Craig Levein is considering a Scotland call-up for Murray Davidson - and could be hoping to persuade James McCarthy to switch allegiance.The national coach admitted that he was at McDiarmid Park on Sunday primarily to watch St Johnstone midfielder Davidson against Celtic.

Wigan's McCarthy has represented Republic of Ireland at Under-21 level.

And Levein told BBC Scotland he was aware of the 19-year-old's situation but was unable to comment at present.

Levein was commenting after a newspaper report suggested that midfielder McCarthy was willing to talk with the new Scotland coach.

Davidson is a wee bit away from being called up to the A squad, but I think he is one with potential

Scotland coach Craig Levein

Glasgow-born McCarthy came through the ranks with Hamilton Academical but was overlooked by the land of his birth at youth level.

He was chosen by the Irish, for whom he qualifies through his grandfather, at Under-17 through to Under-21 level.

But McCarthy, who moved to Wigan for £1.2m in 2009 and recently scored his first goal for the Barclays Premier League side, could still switch to Scotland because he has not yet played a full international.

Levein will be hoping that McCarthy does not follow Celtic winger Aiden McGeady in being a Scottish-born player lost to the full Irish set-up.

The Celtic team that Levein watched overcome 10-man St Johnstone in Perth did not include a single player born in Scotland - other than McGeady - in their starting line-up.

However, the national coach revealed that he was there to watch 21-year-old Davidson, who last year joined Saints from Livingston and returned to the starting line-up against Celtic.

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McCarthy and Davidson for Scotland?

"I knew before I came today that they did not have any," said Levein.

"I have been down in England watching games that often, I thought I would come and take in a game nearer home.

"I quite like the young lad Davidson from St Johnstone. I just wanted to see him.

"He is a wee bit away from being called up to the A squad, but I think he is one with potential."

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport