Scotland manager George Burley insists Rangers' veteran utility man Christian Dailly still has the "appetite" to play international football.Burley has given Dailly his seal of approval as he ponders his squad ahead of the friendly against Croatia at Hampden later in the month.

Before leaving Southampton to take the Scotland job at the end of January, Burley had Dailly on loan from West Ham and backed the 34-year-old's decision to join Walter Smith at Ibrox during the transfer window on another loan deal.

Burley insists Dailly, who has won 66 caps, still has a part to play in the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers, which begin with a trip to Macedonia in September.

Burley said: "I know Christian very well as I had him on loan at Southampton.

"Before the transfer deadline, he was keeping in touch with me for my opinion on what would be the best for his career.

"I thought Rangers would be a good move for him.

"He's very versatile. I saw him play at centre-half against Hibernian on Sunday and I watched him play in midfield last week in Europe.

"I remember going to a Dundee United reserve game many years and he was playing centre-forward at the age of 16.

"He was a big prospect then and he's very hungry to keep playing.

"When we were at Loch Lomond for the recent Scotland get-together, he came and asked me on the Monday if he could play for Rangers reserves on the Tuesday.

"That just shows his appetite is still there. He's desperate to stay in the Scotland squad."

Burley believes that Dailly is being matched all the way by 37-year-old Ibrox team mate David Weir.

The former Hearts and Ipswich boss cannot rule out the prospect of Weir adding to his 60 caps in the World Cup qualification campaign

He said: "I'm sure if you ask anyone at Rangers they will tell you that Christian is one of the fittest players in the squad.

"He's really looked after himself and it's unbelievable how well he's done this season.

"If you've got the appetite and the desire and look after yourself there's no reason why you can't play longer.

"Players are playing longer and David Weir is there for everybody to admire with the performance levels he's achieved this season.

"I read Walter saying that he felt sorry for him as he kept playing him every week but he has done fantastically well.

"We still have to have a look at things for the future as but I certainly haven't ruled him out of playing in the World Cup qualifiers in September."

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