St Mirren goalkeeper Paul Gallacher knows that the competition to take on the number one spot at international level has been made just that bit more difficult with the news that the slate has been wiped clean by the SFA for any new manager to pick any available player. Rangers keeper Allan McGregor, along with Barry Ferguson, was banned from playing for Scotland after being photographed making V-signs at photographers during April's World Cup qualifier against Iceland in the aftermath of them being involved in late night drinking while on Scotland duty. With McGregor being available, Gallacher drops down a bit in the pecking order. The former Dundee United and Norwich player was brought into the squad for the friendly against Wales in Cardiff last week, after winning the last of his eight caps in May 2004, in a 1-0 win in Estonia. Former national coach George Burley sent for Gallacher after his number one number one Craig Gordon pulled out with a fractured arm. In the end, David Marshall played in the 3-0 defeat with Jamie Langfield on the bench. After Burley was sacked on Monday, SFA chief executive Gordon Smith revealed that his replacement would be free to pick whoever they liked.

Gallacher knows that Scotland are well served as far as the goalkeeping position is concerned at the moment. He said: "I think there are three friendlies before the next championship qualifiers kick-off. When a new man comes in and if I'm playing well and I get in then, I will be absolutely delighted. But at the moment there are three goalkeepers ahead of me. It was because Craig Gordon got injured that I got back in the squad but nevertheless I was back in and it was something that I didn't think would happen again. If you look at Craig, the performances he has put in for Scotland are second to none. Nobody can say that he doesn't deserve to be the number one, he has been fantastic and the Tartan Army adore him and rightly so. Of course it would be tougher for me if Allan came back. He has been fantastic, he has probably been Rangers' most consistent player this season. So the goalkeeping department looks fairly healthy at the moment. So if I'm lucky enough to get back in the squad I will be delighted. If not then the goalkeeping department is in great hands - excuse the pun."

Gallacher is looking forward to today's visit to St Mirren Park of Hibs. If the home side win and Aberdeen lose at Motherwell, Gus MacPherson's side will move in to sixth place in the SPL.  Gallacher said: "It will be a tough game. Hibs are playing some great football, they have great strikers and score fantastic goals. But we are looking forward to it and hopefully we can get in the top six and hopefully stay there."