EXCLUSIVE: Dominic Matteo's hopes of an international future with Scotland were dashed as Craig Brown told him he can only ever represent England.

The Liverpool defender's status was researched after Anfield scout Alex Miller - Brown's former Scotland assistant - informed the SFA of his will-ingness to switch allegiance.

But it emerged that Dumfries-born Matteo's Under-21 appearances with England included those in competitive matches, immediately ending any possibility of him becoming a candidate to wear the navy blue of Scotland.

Matteo, who will be 26 later this month and has been with Liverpool throughout his senior career, would have been an ideal long- term replacement for the likes of Tom Boyd, given his capacity to play either as left wing-back or in central defence.

Brown, who yesterday named a familiar squad for next Wednesday's friendly with Holland in Arnhem, was philosophical about the defender's non- qualification last night, but insisted he will continue to comb the football world for would-be recruits if he feels they can improve Scotland's international prospects.

'Matteo's name was mentioned to me by Alex Miller but once I had spoken with Dominic I knew that the games he had played with England at Under-21 level made him ineligible for us,' said Brown.

'Once a player appears in competitive games, he cannot play for another country.

'The player himself had hoped he could be in contention for us and he qualifies having been born here but the door did not close on him, it effectively did not open.

'I was just doing my job - as I did in the case of David Johnson - in exploring possibilities and I will continue to do that if it is going to improve the options open to Scotland.'

Brown faces four days of sweating on the men he has named to face the Dutch, starting on Friday when the Everton contingent - David Weir and Don Hutchison - play Matteo's Liverpool.

Craig Burley of Derby and Blackburn pair Christian Dailly and Callum Davidson will play for their clubs on Easter Monday as the rest of the Scotland squad fly to Holland.

They will assemble on the Monday night if they come through the weekend matches unscathed.

Brown named strikers Kevin Gallacher and Billy Dodds in the hope that both might be fit.