International: Vogts keeping forward cards close to his chest

Scotland boss Berti Vogts is remaining coy over who will lead the attack in the friendly against Nigeria at Pittodrie tomorrow night.

The game against the World Cup-bound African nation will be Vogts’ second game at the helm following the 5-0 mauling against world champions France in Paris last month.

Dunfermline’s Stevie Crawford is most likely to be given the nod in attack and could be partnered by Allan Johnston, Steven Thompson or Garry O’Connor.

Johnson is the most experienced of the three with 12 international caps behind him and is the squad’s top scorer with two goals.

He could, however, lose out to Hibernian youngster O’Connor, who has caught the eye in recent weeks with some fine performances for the Easter Road club.

Former Germany coach Vogts was keen to play down the selection dilemma, insisting the tactics employed will be just as important as the players he puts out on the field.

He said: ‘‘I won’t make up my mind until I see how things go in training.

‘‘Jay-Jay Okocha, who plays for Paris St Germain, is a fantastic player. I know him from his three or four years in the German Bundesliga and we must control him.

‘‘I want to play with a player between the defence and the midfield and whoever plays there will be so important - for me, that will be a key position.’’

The Scotland boss also revealed that he will not play influential skipper Paul Lambert in that role, instead keeping him further forward in the midfield.

‘‘Paul will play further forward for us,’’ insisted Vogts. ‘‘Paul has played so well for Celtic for the last two years, but only together with Neil Lennon playing behind him.

‘‘I need Paul in midfield, I need his organisation and we need him forward for his good passing.’’

Vogts’ final selection will not be announced until tomorrow, when he hopes to have learned more about some of his new faces and their capabilities with a specially prepared training session.

Celtic keeper Rab Douglas is certain to collect his first cap in the Pittodrie friendly despite having a well-publicised bust up after Vogts’ first game at the helm against France.

Douglas claims he was told he would be involved in the match and, by staying in Paris, missed the birth of his child in Scotland.

The German chose to go with number one choice Neil Sullivan for the full 90 minutes, and later claimed he never told Douglas he would play.

This led to the furious Hoops keeper venting his anger in a heated discussion with the manager a French airport as they waited to come home an action that is clearly still fresh in Vogts’ mind.

He said: ‘‘I spoke to Rab one day before we played in Paris and he knew the situation. I was disappointed with the things I read in the media but that is fine.

‘‘There is no problem with me and I don’t know about him, you will have to ask him about that.’’