Canaries keeper David Marshall is hoping George Burley's knowledge of Championship football can help earn him a ticket to the World Cup finals in 2010.

Canaries keeper David Marshall is hoping George Burley's knowledge of Championship football can help earn him a ticket to the World Cup finals in 2010.

Marshall is the recognised number three in the Scotland squad, but he hopes Burley's appointment as leader of the Tartan Army will lead to more opportunities to prove himself.

And the fact that Burley has Championship experience on his CV might just come in handy as he challenges Craig Gordon, of Sunderland, and Rangers' Allan McGregor for the number one jersey.

"Yeah, hopefully," said Marshall. "We obviously played against them (Southampton) earlier in the season so hopefully he knows a bit about me.

"It's good meeting up with Scotland, but at the end of the day you want to play games for your country so hopefully I can get more of a chance this time as well."

The ultimate ambition is a place in the World Cup finals in South Africa in two-and-a-half years time - and Marshall is backing Burley to get them there.

"I think it's a good appointment," the 22-year-old told the club website. "The last two managers have done a great job and turned it around, so hopefully George Burley will come in and do the same sort of job the last two have done. And with a bit more luck - we've got a bit of an easier draw this time - we can get to the World Cup."

Marshall's hopes of a European Championship finals campaign this summer were ended by France, but the World Cup campaign could be less difficult, with Holland the big threat in a group which also includes Iceland, Norway and Macedonia.

"It's not as if Scotland are having a bad time at the moment, so hopefully there won't be too much of a change," said Marshall. "The team pretty much picks itself and the squad. The boys are in confident mood so it's a good time to take charge I think. With a good draw, if we do as well as we did last campaign I'm sure we'll make the World Cup."

Marshall is the only ever-present in the City squad this season, although behind the scenes he has watched managers and coaches come and go.

Having seen Peter Grant, the man who clinched his signature from Celtic in the summer, leave in October, Marshall then saw goalkeeping coach Jim Hollman leave suddenly.

Glenn Roeder came in for Grant, but Hollman's replacement, Stuart Murdoch, lasted less than a week before having a change of heart.

Ex-City keeper and club liaison Bryan Gunn has stepped into the breach for a second time while Roeder hunts for his third goalkeeping coach since his arrival.

"It's hard," admitted Marshall. "But I think it would have been even harder if we hadn't had Gunny here.

"He's been taking us when everybody has been here, there and everywhere, so it's been good. Hopefully we can get someone appointed permanently because you need something to build on and work on, but if it's Gunny until the end of the season we'll just get on with it and hopefully not let it affect our game too much."