Delight for Iwelumo and McAllister

SURPRISE Scotland call-ups Chris Iwelumo and Jamie McAllister are celebrating their returns to the international fold after being included in George Burley's squad for the World Cup qualifier against Norway on Saturday week, but both 30-year-olds insisted they never gave up hope of winning caps.

Despite having never won a full cap, former B international striker Iwelumo has made a strong case for inclusion in recent weeks due to his rich vein of scoring form for Championship leaders Wolves, while full-back McAllister – capped once four years ago in a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago – has been in solid form for Bristol City.

Both men hope the faith shown in them by Burley will allow them to become established members of his squad.

Well-travelled forward Iwelumo started his career with St Mirren, and while the half-Nigerian Coatbridge-born player has suffered several false dawns in his efforts to break into the Scotland squad, he always hoped that his chance would finally arrive.

Berti Vogts planned to name him in his squad for the Far East tour in 2002 but Stoke City's qualification for the play-offs scuppered his chance.

Six years on, Iwelumo is looking to follow the likes of Paul Hartley and Graham Alexander by developing into a regular Scotland player late in his career.

"I was having a look at the last squad and there were probably four players over 30 in there," Iwelumo told the Wolves website yesterday. "It's good to have that experience but this is a first for me.

"There are some great players in the squad and hopefully I'll be able to show what I'm about. It has been a long time coming but I'm just delighted it's happened.

"It's every player's dream to represent their country, or at least be involved, and hopefully I'll get a chance.

"It's just a case of getting there and trying to impress, and if I can, maybe I can stay in there."

Iwelumo's fears of missing out on his Scotland dream intensified when Alex McLeish quit as manager weeks after the striker played in a B international against the Republic of Ireland last year.

Iwelumo has scored eight goals since joining Wolves from Charlton in the summer but he feared a three-match ban sparked by his controversial red card against Preston would hit his renewed hopes.

But the man of many clubs was delighted when Wolves manager Mick McCarthy sent him a text message with the good news while he was playing golf.

"I didn't know what to do with myself but I upped my game on the golf course, that's for sure!" said Iwelumo, who has played for ten clubs since leaving Love Street for Danish side Aarhus as a teenager.

"I thought I might have as good a chance as ever this time around although obviously I never knew if the suspension would end it.

"It was so disappointing because I'd just got a hat-trick, was top scorer in the Championship and then picked up a three-match ban. So I thought I could be struggling but it's just great I've been selected.

"I've consistently scored goals in the Championship over the last three seasons and that's probably what has opened the door as well as the form Wolves have been in.

"I remember when the national anthem came on for the B game and it was unbelievable – imagine that at Hampden."

McAllister also insisted he "never stopped believing" he would force his way back into the Scotland squad following his recall more than four years after his only cap at Easter Road.

"I'm delighted. I got a nice little phone call yesterday afternoon, and it's great news," he told Bristol City World. "It's something I've been striving for, to get back into the squad. And now it's happened, it's up to me to take my chance.

"I never stopped believing I could get back into the team. It's one step in the door and hopefully now I can do really well and establish myself.

"I knew they had been keeping tabs on me, but it's just nice that I'm now back in the squad."

Burley has also been keeping tabs on McAllister's Ashton Gate team-mates Michael McIndoe and Lee Johnson, the son of City manager Gary. McAllister said: "It's great. The boys have been doing really well and they deserve a chance. It's nice to know that they are keeping an eye on them, and hopefully they will get a chance as well."

McAllister is no stranger to Hampden, having spent his entire career in Scotland with Queen of the South, Aberdeen, Livingston and Hearts before moving to England in the summer of 2006.

He helped Livingston win the Scottish League Cup at the national stadium four years ago, beating Hibs in the final.

"I've been lucky enough to play there in cup finals and semi-finals," McAllister said.

"It's a great stadium, and to go there and represent your country is the biggest honour in football for me. It's great and I'm buzzing at the moment.

"Every time I've been going out on a Saturday, I've been thinking about it, and I always thought I'd get my chance again. I've always believed that I'm good enough to play at that level."

Chris Iwelumo's ten clubs

1996-1998: St Mirren

13 appearances, 0 goals

1998-2000: Aarhus

27 appearances, 4 goals

2000-2004: Stoke City

85 appearances, 15 goals

2000: York City (loan)

12 appearances, 2 goals

2001: Cheltenham (loan)

4 appearances, 1 goal

2004: Brighton (loan)

10 appearances, 4 goals

2005: Alemannia Aachen

9 appearances, 0 goals

2005-2007: Colchester Utd

92 appearances, 35 goals

2007-2008: Charlton Athletic

46 appearances, 10 goals

2008: Wolves

7 appearances, 8 goals