Scott MacLeod is determined to put the upset and confusion of the past fortnight behind him with a big performance against England at Murrayfield this weekend.

The 29-year-old lock failed a drugs test earlier this year because he had changed asthma inhalers without informing the relevant authorities.

To his relief, he escaped with a reprimand and a warning about his future conduct after the incident was made public last week.

He has also recovered from a shoulder injury sustained against Ireland in Scotland's last outing - and is raring to go.

"I had a big scrummage session yesterday; we did lots of pick-and-gos, driving line-outs and so on - and I came through that all fine," he reported.

"The main thing was that I didn't want to be out of contention for selection through injury this week after what has happened, and luckily I've been given the chance to start again.

"I didn't want people to keep dwelling on the drugs thing. People will be talking about it again this weekend anyway, no doubt, but I'm keen to get back to playing rugby."

MacLeod is encouraged by the generous reaction to his inhaler mix-up.

"I was a bit worried, because the black and white of it is that I failed a drugs test," he said.

"People have said I was a bit of a wally for letting it happen, but there hasn't been anything really negative.

"I think everyone has accepted that I take medication purely for my asthma and it's been an administrative mistake.

"They recognise that I haven't taken anything for performance-enhancing reasons or anything like that.

"I've had stick from the boys, of course - but it has just been banter."

MacLeod says he has fond memories of his only other experience of playing against England in a full international match - two years ago, when Scotland secured a surprise 18-12 victory at Murrayfield.

He was dropped for Scotland's next match against Ireland but remains proud to have been involved in one of his country's greatest rugby results.

"That was my first start in the Six Nations," he recalled.

"I was disappointed that I then dropped out of things. But I'm the biggest critic of my own game and I know I didn't do enough in that match to cement my position.

"It was a great achievement to win the Calcutta Cup. But I didn't play a great game myself, so I can't really complain."

With three defeats in three matches so far in this season Six Nations, the odds are stacked against Scotland winning the Calcutta Cup on Saturday.

But Macleod insists the hosts are more than capable of securing back-to-back wins over England at Murrayfield for the first time since 1986.

"It's been really disappointing so far - we really have trained hard but have got nothing from it at because of simple errors," he explained.

"This week we have trained particularly well, and we have too many good players not to click at some point.

"We hope we can put a performance together that will not only make Scotland proud but give us something we feel we deserve.

"If we beat England it won't quite be the case that all will be forgiven, but it will go a long way towards redeeming us."

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