Brunt says away form must improve

SCOTLAND v NORTHERN IRELAND
Venue: Hampden Park Date: Wednesday, 20 August Kick-off: 2000 BST Coverage: Live on BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Ulster and coverage on the BBC Sport website

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Chris Brunt has become a key player in the NI squad

West Bromwich Albion winger Chris Brunt says Northern Ireland's away form must improve if they are to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

"If we can improve our away form and continue our home form, which was good in the last campaign, then we have a good chance of qualifying," said Brunt.

"We will not maybe have as much of the ball away from home as we do at Windsor Park but we must all pull together.

"We can start by doing well against Scotland and then away to Slovakia."

Brunt added that the players were hugely disappointed after last September's defeat to Iceland in Reykjavik, which effectively ended their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008.

606: DEBATE I think Evans will go into the centre of defence, McAuley will be at right back and Feeney will partner Healy MBE up front NI_Football

"I have never seen as dejected a group of boys as our squad on the way home from Iceland but we just have to concentrate on improving as a team."

Northern Ireland face Scotland in a friendly match in Glasgow on Wednesday night, a fixture which will mark Brunt's first appearance for his country as a Premiership footballer.

"I have always been working towards playing in the Premiership and I think that my experience in international football will help me at that level.

"Playing against Scotland is almost like a local derby as it's easy for the fans to get to and it's important that we produce a good performance before the first qualifying game in Bratislava on 6 September.

"It's important we start well in that first match and work as a team, which is our strength."

606: DEBATE I think Evans will go into the centre of defence, McAuley will be at right back and Feeney will partner Healy MBE up front NI_Football