BURNLEY BEATING MAN UTD SHOWED THAT MIRACLES DO HAPPEN .. THAT'S WHY WE CAN STILL GET TO THE FINALS; Fletcher desperate to put Scots back on track.

Byline: COLIN DUNCAN

IMPOSSIBLE is Nothing. The motto of a famous sportswear giant and a phrase that has already served Steven Fletcher well this season.

Fletcher was part of the Burnley side that caused one of the biggest upsets in Premiership history last month when they beat Manchester United at Turf Moor.

Nobody gave them a prayer and with Scotland needing a minor miracle the same could be said for our hopes of reaching South Africa next summer.

Yet, while our chances of playing in the World Cup finals are hanging by a thread, Fletcher insists Burnley's recent triumph proves anything can happen in football.

The Scotland hitman has been buzzing since the 1-0 victory over United and feels it can provide the inspiration for wins against Macedonia tomorrow and Holland four days later.

Fletch said: "The atmosphere in the stadium the night we beat United was amazing. That got us through it along with playing well.

"It has been one of my career highlights and was a great night, especially for the players.

"I sat at home after the game until 2.30am just buzzing. I had family down and we celebrated the victory. I also watched it on television again and it was a good win. Before the Premiership started I didn't know what was going to happen but I've now got my first few games out of the way and I'm getting results. That lifts you.

"All the Burnley boys are on a high. We are buzzing and we are bringing that into the Scotland squad which is good.

"Playing in the Premiership has been a good experience so far. I just hope the results keep coming.

Challenge

"It's a lot different to the SPL. The games so far have been great and it was a terrific experience going to play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last Saturday.

"I spent all day tracking Ashley Cole up and down that wing. It's a good challenge to be playing against people like him and John Terry.

"I slept all day after that Chelsea game. I was just dying. I don't know if they are half a yard quicker - more like two yards quicker."

A likely starter for Scotland against Macedonia at Hampden tomorrow, Fletcher is one of the few players in George Burley's squad not to bear the scars of last month's 4-0 defeat in Norway, where he was an unused sub.

Nor was he part of the shambles in Macedonia at the start of the campaign.

In fact, given his record at the National Stadium and his love of the big stage Fletch should arguably be the first name on the manager''s team-sheet.

In three Hampden appearances the 22-year-old has scored twice for Hibs in a League Cup Final win over Kilmarnock, bagged a winner against Iceland to keep Scotland in contention and impressed on his international debut against Croatia. He said: "I have a lot of great memories from Hampden although I didn't think it would have happened so early in my career.

"This is what I've worked hard for. It has come early but I'm happy to be getting caps and be playing on the big stage.

"I wasn't involved in the first Macedonia game but watched it and I think we deserved to get more than we did. Hopefully we can get the right result this time.

"We have to get over what happened in Norway. There is no point in dwelling on the past if we want to get through.

Lifted

"It all comes down to professionalism. Throughout our careers we have all had bad games and the one in Oslo was just another one.

"We didn't get the result we wanted but we now have the chance to show we are a good team. We just have to put the Norway result to the back of our minds.

"It was a huge disappointment and afterwards it was good to get back to the clubsideof things.Burnley's results have certainly lifted us and I think it would have lifted the other boys as well. We are now coming back with the slate wiped clean."

Despite the pitiful display in Oslo and a pretty mediocre Group Nine campaign so far, the matches against Macedonia and Holland are heading for sell-outs.

Fletcher added: "It is always nice to play to a full house where the fans are all on your side.

"It was great to score my first Scotland goal in front of them against Iceland.

"Just to play for your country is a great achievement but to get the first goal was great. I was buzzing for weeks after it.

"It would be really nice to get one against Holland on Wednesday night but we need to getSaturday out of the way first.

"I have to get on the pitch and hopefully I can go out and do what I'm meant to do, which is score goals.

"Saturday is a massive game and if we win it will set things up nicely for Wednesday.

"We want to finish on a high and if we can get the six points we will be delighted.

"That's all we can do and if we get the points and don't qualify then that is what happens.

"However, I believe we have a good chance. We have to keep our eyes on other results in the group but we can only go out and give it our best shot."