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Whittaker's World Cup dream is alive
Steven Whittaker's World Cup dream is alive with a last-minute call up into Scotland’s injury hit squad.
The Rangers star answered the SOS from international team boss George Burley when Ibrox team mates Kirk Broadfoot and David Weir were forced to pull out.
The uncapped 24-year-old was preparing for training at Murray Park when the call came and by lunch time he was with the Scotland squad at their Cameron House headquarters by lunch time to join in the preparations for the double header against Holland this Saturday night and then against Iceland at Hampden next Wednesday.
Whittaker said: "I was aware that the squad had been hit with a few injury problems so I knew there might be a chance of getting called up.
"The phone call came this morning and I am absolutely delighted.
"Just recently I have been back in the Rangers team and was playing well so George has maybe seen that and decided to pick me.
I was aware that the squad had been hit with a few injury problemsso I knew there might be a chance of getting called up
"We will wait and see what happens but it would be a dream for me to make my debut against a team like Holland and get my first full Scotland cap.
"That would be massive but I am just thrilled to be involved.
"It will be a great experience."
Whittaker was called up by Scotland for the trip to Ukraine when current Rangers boss Walter Smith was in charge of the national team in October 2006.
However, he wasn’t used in Kiev and sat in the stand as Hearts defender Robbie Neilson was used at right-back instead.
He was also an unused substitute in the home friendly against Northern Ireland last August.
Now Whittaker will be looking to win his first cap for his country after appearing at under-21 and B level previously.