Soccer: Lambert should carry on playing for Scotland - O'Neill

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has urged midfielder Paul Lambert to reconsider his decision to quit international football.

Lambert may play his last game against Latvia next month.

He has stated he would retire from the national side if Scotland failed to qualify for the finals.

But his club boss believes that it is too early for him to turn his back on Scotland and can still be influential in helping them qualify for Euro 2004.

"My own view is that I think it's premature," insisted O'Neill. "I think that he is playing exceptionally well for us and I suppose club form is all you can every judge it on.

"I think you should always play until you feel that you can't give any more and certainly his performance in the second game (against Belgium) would suggest he has something to offer Scotland at this minute.

"Obviously they have a couple of players coming towards the end of their careers and my own view is that he should hang on in there a little bit longer until the manager tells him not to bother.

"The World Cup looks lost, although you never know. Belgium are very capable and big Joos (Valgaeren) said that the Belgium side can go and win there in Croatia. If Scotland score a few goals it's not done for.''

The Parkhead boss admitted that Lambert is a better player than he ever thought he was.

He believes that former Borussia Dortmund coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has made him the player he is.

O'Neill explained: "I saw him once or twice in that Champions League run that Borussia Dortmund had and any player that ends up winning a European Cup medal in a side like that has got to have some sort of quality.''