Burley will be watching Cardiff’s McNaughton at Wembley

Now that the FA Cup semifinals are over, and Cardiff have kicked out upset heroes Barnsley to reach their first final in 81 years, we can look forward to what should be a great final match between Cardiff and Portsmouth. For those of us whose first allegiance is the Scottish national side, there is something for us to keep an eye on as well. Cardiff defender Kevin McNaughton is very much in George Burley’s plans, and it was only injury woes that kept him from the squad in March. While his teammate on the Welsh club, Gavin Rae, was able to play and get his twelfth national cap, McNaughton had to sit and watch. Though he limped off with a back injury just after halftime in Sunday’s semifinal win, he should be back and ready for Portsmouth in the final.

McNaughton is no debutant for Scotland. He has three caps to his name, going back to 2002, when he played in our friendly loss to Nigeria. He is known as a player who can play anywhere in the back line, which will serve him well with Burley, since his position at Cardiff, right back, is currently safe and sound in the hands of one Alan Hutton. In central defense, we have Weir, Berra, McManus, Caldwell, and even possibly Falkirk’s Darren Barr. The left back position, on the other hand, is a little open. More on that soon. Meanwhile, April 17th will likely see George Burley somewhere in the stands at Wembley, watching Rae and McNaughton and planning ahead for the Czech Republic friendly just two weeks later.