Scots without captain Ferguson

Walter Smith has named a 23-man squad for Scotland's UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying double-header against the Faroe Islands and Lithuania next month.

Ferguson out
Captain Barry Ferguson misses out as he continues his recovery from a heel injury, nor is there a place for centre-back Andy Webster, currently without a club after leaving Heart of Midlothian FC. Celtic FC defender Stephen McManus gets his first call-up along with Hearts full-back Robbie Neilson and Motherwell FC goalkeeper Graeme Smith. However, Chris Burke, Steven Caldwell, Jackie McNamara and Ian Murray join Ferguson on the sidelines.

'Opportunity for good start'
Scotland open their campaign against the Faroe Islands at Celtic Park on 2 September, followed by a trip to Kaunas four days later. "We've an opportunity to get off to a good start against the Faroes," Smith told uefa.com. "We know we've got extremely difficult games against Italy, France and the Ukraine so the other games are ones where we have to show we can pick up points and that includes the Faroes."

Scotland squad
Goalkeepers: Neil Alexander (Cardiff City FC), Craig Gordon (Heart of Midlothian FC), Graeme Smith (Motherwell FC).

Defenders: Graham Alexander (Preston North End FC), Russell Anderson (Aberdeen FC), Gary Caldwell (Celtic FC), Christian Dailly (West Ham United FC), Stephen McManus (Celtic FC), Graeme Murty (Reading FC), Gary Naysmith (Everton FC), Robbie Neilson (Heart of Midlothian FC), Steven Pressley (Heart of Midlothian FC), David Weir (Everton FC).

Midfield: Darren Fletcher (Manchester United FC), Paul Hartley (Heart of Midlothian FC), Lee McCulloch (Wigan Athletic FC), Nigel Quashie (West Bromwich Albion FC), Scott Severin (Aberdeen FC), Gary Teale (Wigan Athletic FC).

Forwards: Kris Boyd (Rangers FC), James McFadden (Everton FC), Kenny Miller (Celtic FC), Garry O'Connor (FC Lokomotiv Moskva).