TOM BOYD has thanked former coach Wim Jansen for helping seven Celtic players win places in Scotland's World Cup squad. Club skipper Boyd, Tosh McKinlay, Jackie McNamara, Craig Burley, Paul Lambert, Simon Donnelly and Darren Jackson are all at Scotland's pre-tournament training camp in America. The Bhoys' dominance of the party is a glowing testament to what Jansen - who resigned over a lack of transfer funds only hours after leading the club to their first championship in a decade - leaves behind at Celtic Park. I am delighted for all the Celtic boys that we've been given the nod and called into the squad, Boyd said, as the Scots prepared for tomorrow's warm-up friendly against fellow France 98 finalists Colombia. We are all still on a high after winning the title and all of us have a lot to be grateful to Wim Jansen for. From a personal point of view, I know how much he helped my game last season. Wim liked us to play at a slower tempo and be patient and this is the system that is recognised at international level. We got a lot of success from his style of play and for me the season has been magnificent. Burley and Lambert look set to join Boyd in the starting line-up for tomorrow's match, but there could be disappointment for the other Celtic players. Scotland manager Craig Brown is determined to be ruthless as he prepares for the World Cup, and that will mean a few of his 22-man squad returning from the USA without kicking a ball in anger. Brown learned a painful lesson when he tinkered with the team in the run-up to Euro 96 and watched them get beaten by the nations that they'll meet on this tour - the United States and Colombia. He is determined there will be no repeat performance over the next ten days as they take on the same opponents again. A lot of negative jibes and a lot of negative publicity were generated after those two defeats, he said. That negativity spread to the players and I think this time I need to be a bit more ruthless about my team selection. Two years ago we told all the players they would probably get a cap. This time it will be different. I don't think you will see the World Cup side against Colombia, but it will be a strong team nonetheless.'' Scotland's only injury doubts for Saturday are goalkeeper Andy Goram, who picked up a hamstring injury in Rangers' Scottish Cup Final defeat by Hearts last Saturday, and Monaco midfielder John Collins, who has not played for three weeks because of a toe injury.

‘GOUGH JUST A GUEST' INSISTS CRAIG BROWN   SCOTLAND manager Craig Brown has denied reports he asked veteran defender Richard Gough to assist with preparations at his World Cup training camp in New Jersey. Brown invited the 36-year-old former Rangers captain to take part in training sessions after Gough said he would be going to watch the Scots' tour matches against Colombia and the USA but insists he is not part of the coaching staff. The Scotland manager said: There is no question of Richard coming as an advisor. I spoke to him after the Scottish Cup Final on Saturday and he said he might try and take in our games. I told him he could join in our training if he wanted to. The invitation was also extended to Mo Johnstone.'' Gough is one of the most experienced players in Scottish football having competed in two World Cup finals, in Mexico in 1986 and Italia 90. He has been frozen out of the international scene since Brown took over from Andy Roxburgh and won the last of his 61 caps five years ago. He played his last game for Rangers last Saturday as they lost to Hearts in the Scottish Cup Final and will now travel to California and join Major League Soccer's San Jose Clash. Former Scotland, Celtic, Rangers and Everton striker Johnstone is also playing in the United States, hence the invitations for the pair to visit the Scotland training camp.

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