Town midfielder Veliche Shumulikoski has branded George Burley's Scotland side long ball merchants ahead of Macedonia's World Cup qualifier with the Scots in Skopje on Saturday.

Shumulikoski says he is aware of several members of Burley's team from his time with the Blues and has seen their preferred style of play: "Many of the Scottish players play in England, like me. I know a few of them and know they play aggressive football with long balls. Our defenders must be very careful here.

"But with their style and our counter-attacks, I'm sure we'll do enough and it will be our fans who are celebrating at the end of the match."

There is some confusion regarding Shumulikoski's precise haul of international caps with UEFA's official records claiming 49, however, the Macedonian FA have the recent friendly with Luxembourg down as his 50th appearance and will present him with an award to commemorate the milestone prior to Saturday's game.

Macedonia face Holland, also in Skopje, on September 10th and Shumulikoski is one of five Town players currently away with international squads.

Alex Bruce is with the Republic of Ireland squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Montenegro. Bruce has previously won only a single full cap but has become a regular in squads under Giovanni Trapattoni.

The Georgia game on Saturday will be played in Mainz, Germany due to the current instability in the former Soviet Republic, before the Irish squad travel to Montenegro four days later.

Owen Garvan is away with the Republic of Ireland U21 squad for their final European Championship qualifying games against Bulgaria and Portugal. Garvan, who pulled out of the recent friendly in Austria due to illness, has previously won four U21 caps.

The Irish youngsters take on Bulgaria in Sofia on Friday and then Portugal in Madeira on September 9th. Ireland can no longer qualify for the European Championship.

Central defender Gareth McAuley is with the Northern Ireland squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Slovakia on Saturday. McAuley, who has 11 senior caps, and his team-mates then face the Czech Republic at Windsor Park on September 10th.

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington used the Town skipper as a right-back during the recent friendly against Scotland.

Defender Chris Casement, who joined Hamilton Academical on loan earlier in the week, is with the Northern Ireland U21 squad for their UEFA U21 Championship qualifying game against Germany on Friday in Wuppertal. Casement has previously won eight U21 caps, scoring one goal.

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