October 3 2001

Dougie Freedman

Dougie Freedman believes he can become a successful international latecomer just like Rangers striker Billy Dodds.

Freedman is in the best goal-scoring form of his life and has been selected for the Scotland squad on Saturday for the first time since his only other call-up five years ago.

Freedman said: "People like Billy Dodds have given me a lot of hope. His first game was going to be in Estonia and he was 27 or 28.

"I'm still young enough to make an impression and this game gives me the chance to establish myself in front of the Scottish people. I'm confident I can score goals - that's why I am here."

But the striker feels he has moved about too many times and not been consistently scoring goals in the past to earn a call-up to the squad.

He said: "I've scored 10 in 10 this season. My club form is good and the team is playing well. But these have been wasted years because I haven't played for my country.

"I have made mistakes and moved too many times. There is no-one I can blame other than myself for not showing consistency."

The 27-year-old began his career at QPR, before moving onto Barnet where Palace signed him. He moved to Wolves and then Nottingham Forest and returned to the Eagles for his second spell last season.

He said: "I have made three moves in the last four years. I should maybe have stayed at Crystal Palace and settled there first time. There are no excuses but it is maybe why I haven't scored as many as I should have done."