Christophe Berra will become the Blues’ first Scotland international in 30 years if he features in tonight’s friendly against the USA at Hampden Park (Sky Sports 2/HD 2, 7.30pm).
John Wark was the last Town player to wear the dark blue 30 years ago tomorrow when he played in a 2-1 defeat to East Germany in a European Championships qualifier in Halle.
Edinburgh-born Berra has been called up for the first time since he joined the Blues in the summer, having previously won 27 full Scotland caps, scoring two goals, in addition to appearances at U21 and B levels. The Scots also face Norway in another friendly on Tuesday.
Manager Mick McCarthy says the call will mean a lot to Berra: "I’m delighted for him because, certainly when he was at Wolves, he was very proud of the fact that he was in the Scotland squad and playing.
"If he’d been left out [of the Wolves team] he was conscious that that could affect his position. I’m delighted, really pleased for him and he really deserves it because he’s such a terrific pro.”
Meanwhile, academy second-year keeper Michael Crowe will make his first start for the Wales U19s when they face Holland in their European Championships qualifying mini-tournament in Tbilisi this morning.
The 18-year-old came on as a second-half sub in Geraint Williams’s side’s 5-1 defeat to Georgia in their opening game on Wednesday. They face Moldova in their final match on Monday.
London-born Crowe, whose father is English and mother Norwegian, joined the Blues in the summer of 2012 from Kristiansand-based side IK Start, having been brought up in Norway. He qualifies for Wales through his grandmother.
Academy first-year scholar Jonny Smith came on as a half-time sub for Northern Ireland’s U17s in their 1-0 defeat to Latvia in the European Championships qualifying mini-tournament they are hosting this week.
The Northern Irish youngsters next face Turkey and Luxembourg on Saturday and Tuesday respectively.
Elsewhere, boss Mick McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor were at the Jody Craddock Reunion Dinner at Molineux last night. Craddock has been granted a testimonial year by Wolves and last night saw McCarthy’s 2008/09 Championship-winning team pay tribute to their skipper.