GOT TO BE BOYD says RONNIE CULLY

THE importance of tomorrow's match against Norway can't be overstated, which is why it has to be a time for the tried and trusted.

Chris Iwelumo ticks neither box, whereas Kris Boyd comes up trumps on both counts.

Sure, the 30-year-old new boy has enjoyed a purple patch this season while playing for Wolves, and he certainly is worth a place in the squad.

However, it is taking a massive gamble to assume Iwelumo can transfer this form to the international stage, and there has been plenty of opportunity before the World Cup qualifiers began to give him a run-out in the full side.

The time to experiment is not when the chips are down in a game which you must win to have any chance of retaining an interest in qualifying for the World Cup.

Norway lost a couple of goals to set-pieces against Iceland, and manager George Burley may consider they have an aerial weakness.

But, this is a game in which the ball will be in and around the Norwegians' penalty box often enough to suit an out-and-out finisher. With seven goals in 15 appearances, Boyd has proved he is the man for the job. IWELUMO FOR ME says MATTHEW LINDSAY

ONE of the most frustrating traits of previous Scottish managerial regimes was an unwillingness to take a chance on new players.

Game after game, they trotted out the same old faces. Ultimately and inevitably, it all ended in failure. Poor old Berti Vogts had to pick up the pieces.

Mercifully, it appears that new national boss George Burley has not been cursed with this damaging affliction.

Against Iceland, he threw caution to the wind, put his faith in Kirk Broadfoot and Kris Commons and gave Shaun Maloney a rare start.

His gamble was repaid with a fine 2-1 win which boosted our hopes of qualifying for the World Cup Finals in 2010.

Now he looks set to give Chris Iwelumo of Wolves his first competitive start in the Group Nine showdown with Norway at Hampden tomorow.

Hopefully, he will reap rich rewards from making such a bold decision.

Burley believes an aerial threat up front may cause the visitors problems. At 6ft 4in, the 30-year-old is the perfect man to exploit that, not Kris Boyd.

If he succeeds, what a weapon Scotland will have at their disposal.