The full-back, who was forced to pull out of his return to the international fold after a six-year exile, has been told by a specialist his knee injury is only a simple twist.

"He went for a scan and it confirmed there is no serious problem there," said relieved manager Alan Irvine.

"Callum is only going to miss days rather than weeks. So that is great news."

Davidson had hoped to figure in the game at Hampden Park tonight to stake a claim for Scotland's opening two World Cup qualifiers in Macedonia and Iceland next month.

But 24 hours before reporting to the team's training base, he limped off in the second half of Saturday's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.

The 32-year-old, who last played for his country in October 2002, still made the trip for George Burley's medical team to assess his injury.

He then returned to Preston where a scan showed only slight inflammation in the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

"It was just what our physio thought, a little bit of a strain to the PCL," Irvine told the Evening Post.

"He has just hyper-extended his knee and there is a wee bit of
inflammation there at the back of it.

"It is not bad and we will see how he goes over the next few days.

"I can't say at this stage whether he will be fit for Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday because yesterday was his first day of doing any work on it.

"But as we speak I certainly wouldn't rule him out altogether. You never know.

"That said, it is still a massive blow for Callum not to be able to play for his country tonight and we all feel for him.

"After waiting so long to get back into the Scotland squad it is such a real shame for the lad that this has happened when it has.

"He went up there on Sunday to show how keen he is to be
involved with the national side.

"Obviously they will have appreciated he has taken the time and the trouble to make the trip.

"He has shown he wants to be part of it and hopefully he will be when the next squad is announced."

Davidson was a surprise inclusion in the Scotland party to face Northern Ireland after being in the international wilderness for so long.

His last cap came under Berti Vogts in a friendly against Canada in Edinburgh – his 17th appearance for his country.

For more from Alan Irvine, pick up a copy of Wednesday's Lancashire Evening Post.

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