James McFadden and Maik Taylor faced each other in a friendly between Scotland and Northern Ireland earlier this month. .

The Blues quartet of James McFadden, Garry O'Connor, Seb Larsson and Maik Taylor have all been called up by their respective countries for World Cup qualifying games next month.

Qualifying for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa begins in earnest with most countries facing a double header, starting in the first weekend of September.

O'Connor has been recalled to the Scotland squad, alongside club team mate McFadden, for next month's World Cup qualifying away double header at Macedonia (September 6) and Iceland (September 10).

Seb Larsson has been included in the Sweden squad for qualifiers against against Albania and Hungary on the same dates.

And Maik Taylor has been selected in the Northern Ireland squad for qualifying matches away to Slovakia and at home to the Czech Republic.

Staying with NI, youngster Michael McKerr is in their U19 squad for two friendly matches against Iceland on September 8 and 10.

Across the Irish border, Stephen Kelly has been included in the preliminary Republic of Ireland squad for their World Cup away double header at Georgia and Montenegro but as yet the FAI haven't confirm the final 22-man squad.