International: New boys hoping they don’t fluff their lines

English-born duo Robbie Stockdale and Graham Alexander have been celebrating their Scotland call-ups - by brushing up on the national anthem.

Boss Berti Vogts has called up Middlesbrough youngster Stockdale and Preston full-back Alexander for his second game in charge, against Nigeria at Pittodrie tomorrow night.

Alexander, who is the son of a Scottish father and an Irish mother, insists he has the edge on Stockdale, who qualifies through a Scottish grandmother, because he already knew some of the words.

At 30-years-old, Alexander had all but given up on his dream of playing international football, and as the son of a fiercely patriotic Scotsman, he couldn’t be more proud at the thought of pulling on the dark blue jersey.

He said: ‘‘It hasn’t quite hit me yet but as soon as I get out there and even just put on that Scotland training kit it will sink in.

‘‘Up until Saturday all my concentration was on the Preston game, but since then all I have thought about is Scotland.’’

Alexander, who has played the last four years at full-back and the previous four in midfield, thanked former Preston boss Davie Moyes - now at Everton - for his chance at international football.

‘‘I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for David Moyes,’’ said Alexander. ‘‘The day he left Preston he took me aside and told me he was going to speak to Berti Vogts and push my case.

‘‘I would never have believed you if you had told me I was going to be called up and my intention now is to do well enough to stay in the squad for a while.

‘‘It’s just like the first day at school for me, I had the first-day nerves but I think it would have affected me more earlier in my career when I was younger.’’

Alexander revealed that his father sent him a tape of Flower of Scotland - the Scottish national anthem - and has given him a stern warning.

He said: ‘‘I already knew some of the words but I’ve been learning the rest and I have been told that if I play I have not to swap my shirt, I’ve got to bring it home and get every souvenir I can.

‘‘I have never had any affinity with England and I have always supported Scotland, so this will be a dream come true for me.’’

Stockdale, who impressed Vogts with his performance in Boro’s narrow 1-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat against Arsenal on Sunday, may be asked to play an unfamiliar role, between the defence and the midfield.

The 22-year-old, who has been capped at under-21 level for England, insists that wouldn’t be a problem, and is keen to get off to a winning start to silence his Boro teammates, who have given him some stick recently.

He said: ‘‘I’ve had all the McStockdale jokes and all the usual stuff, but to be honest the lads are delighted for me.

‘‘One of my friends e-mailed me the words to Flower of Scotland so I have learned the first verse and if I play I will be singing all right.

‘‘I’d say I am a right-back or right wing-back but I have played midfield and I don’t think there is much difference, so it won’t be a problem if I have to play there.’’