Two of Scotland’s forgotten stalwarts were recalled to the national training squad yesterday, but both admit that they still have some way to go to convince the coaches that they deserve to go farther and into the team to play France in less than three weeks.

Scott Murray is resolutely refusing to accept that his international career is over after 87 caps, a Scotland record, and the lock has promised to get stuck in more than ever to ensure that his recall is not just a one-off.

In the same boat, Bruce Douglas, the 40-cap prop who has been out of the squad for more than a year, says that he is determined to work his way back, while admitting that the first task is to get weekly starts with Llanelli Scarlets, the club he joined in the summer.

Both won fulsome praise yesterday from George Graham, the forwards coach, for the way they reacted to their late call-ups to yesterday’s session. “We got in touch with Scott on Saturday to say he was needed on Monday and his reaction was ‘I can be there tomorrow if you like’,” Graham said. “He was obviously bitterly disappointed at not being included in the initial squad but has put that behind him.

“It’s good to see Bruce back involved. He seems to have fallen a bit by the wayside, but seems to be starting regularly enough down in Wales. He has experience and quality and it is good for us that he is forcing his way back in. We will be looking at him seriously.”

Douglas was required as cover for Euan Murray, who has a calf problem, and the Scotland coaches were waiting for the results of a scan last night to discover how serious it was.

Also added to the squad were Craig Smith, another prop who has been struggling with a calf problem and missed out on original selection, and Dougie Hall, the hooker who played his first 40 minutes of the season for Glasgow against Viadana on Saturday.

Murray, who recently turned 32, is intent on forcing his way back into the international reckoning, despite having moved to France in the summer. “There is still a long way ahead and there will be boys coming back in,” he said. “All I can do is stick my head down, train really hard and keep playing well.”

“I knew the situation when Frank [Hadden, the national coach] phoned and told me I was not included, but what can you do? I was disappointed and frustrated, but all I can do is keep playing the way I am and, fingers crossed, I will get another shot.

“I don’t think I have played a bad game for Montauban yet. I have settled in quite well. I’ve made no bones about it, if they need me I’m here, I’m keen and think I still have a lot to offer. You know as a player if you can’t give 100 per cent, and I am still feeling pretty fresh. That’s why I flew all the way here to show what I can do.”

Douglas was a little more downbeat about his long-term prospects, accepting that he cannot be seen as a serious contender for an international place until he is playing every week for his club, and not rotating between the bench and a starting spot.

“I was delighted to come up,” he said. “I know it is just a training session but it is good to know they have not forgotten about you completely. I am enjoying playing in Wales, but it is a bigger squad than I am used to and you don’t get an opportunity every game.”

Douglas added that Llanelli are determined to get something out of the weekend game against Clermont Auvergne and not finish as the only team in the Heineken Cup with no points from this season’s campaign.

Scotland’s training continues today, but those involved in key Heineken Cup games are being released back to their clubs, which includes the Glasgow contingent, who are still in with a chance of reaching the quarter-finals if they can beat Saracens on Friday, a position that Hall is delighted with.

“We have not been playing that well but the things we need to fix are not that big, certainly things you can change in a week,” he said. “It is a matter of confidence more than anything and it can change in a flash.”