Pubdate: Tue, 29 Feb 2000 Source: Daily Record (UK) Copyright: 1999 Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd. Contact: Anderston Quay, Glasgow, Scotland, G3 8DA Website: http://www.record-mail.co.uk/ CUP ACE DRUG SHAME ONE of Scotland's top young footballers faces being booted out the game after testing positive for cocaine and cannabis. Shamed former Under-21 international Andy McLaren, who won a Scottish Cup medal with Dundee United, has been charged with misconduct by football chiefs. The midfielder failed a random drugs test while he was playing for English Second Divison side Reading. He was nabbed by the Football Association in England last month after returning to Reading from an unsuccessful loan spell at Scottish First Division side Livingston. McLaren was known for his enjoyment of the social scene during his spell at Dundee United where he developed a reputation as a heavy drinker. Yesterday, a former team-mate said: "It's sad to see his decline - but not surprising. "Things reached the stage when pals were making excuses to avoid his company." McLaren, 26, has had his contract at Reading terminated by boss Alan Pardew and he is now a free agent. He cost pounds 150,000 when he was signed for Reading by ex- Celtic manager Tommy Burns in March, last year. McLaren's life has been blighted by tragedy and problems since his early teens, growing up in the Castlemilk area of Glasgow. His father died when he was just 16 from choking on his own vomit after a booze binge. And by the time McLaren moved to Dundee to play with United, his girlfriend was pregnant. McLaren won four Under-21 international caps but the pinnacle of a very short career was his winner's medal in the 1994 Scottish Cup final win over Rangers. McLaren is the second Reading player to fail a drugs test in the last nine months. Teenage midfielder Byron Glasgow was sacked by the club last May after testing positive for cocaine. McLaren's career has been plagued by inconsistency and personality clashes. He played for Reading only 11 times because of injury and bad form. In March last year, he angered Preston North End's Scots manager Davie Moyes after failing to show up for a trial. He was put up for sale in 1995 by then Dundee United manager Ivan Golac after turning up late for training twice. Golac said at the time: "I have had him in my office half a dozen times trying to give him advice aimed at helping his career. But I can only do so much." McLaren signed for United from Rangers Amateur Boys when he was 13.