Burley claimed Iwelumo would have scored "99 times out of 100" the incredible chance he squandered on Saturday.

The Wolves striker, 30, made his debut as a second-half substitute for James McFadden at Hampden Park but stunned the Tartan Army when he missed an open goal three yards out after Gary Naysmith had set him up.

Scotland failed to get the breakthrough and the draw left Burley's men with four points from three games and probably needing to win their last five Group Nine matches, including a double-header against Holland, if they are to book their place in South Africa.

The manager admitted the chance should have been converted but insisted he will persevere with the big striker for the rest of the campaign.

"It was a stalemate in the first half and I thought we stepped it up in the second half, changed the system and put them under pressure," Burley said.

"We had some good opportunities, and if we had got the first goal then we would have won the game.

"But it didn't happen and 99 times out of 100 Chris would have scored.

"Afterwards Chris said, 'I should have scored' and he is disappointed but he has shown that he is a goalscorer.

"His height and strength gave the Norway defence lots of problems and he linked well with Steven Fletcher.

"It was his first time in the squad but he showed that he could do well in international football."

Despite facing a daunting trip to Holland in the next qualifier at the end of March, Burley insists Scotland's World Cup qualification hopes are not over.

He said: "It is still possible, it's not lost.

"It makes it more difficult just getting one point but we will battle all the way.

"It was always going to be a tight group - anyone can beat anyone and that showed today.

"There is no doubt about it, you are looking to win your home games but we didn't finish them off.

"Holland away are going to be tough and we have to look at winning in Norway but we are still in it.

"We did enough in the second half to win the match but we weren't clinical."

Norway boss Age Hareide insists his side deserved to win the game despite Iwelumo's blunder.

He said: "I felt we deserved all three points, we had most of the chances.

"I know that Scotland had a big chance but we had chances in the first half and a couple of chances at the end of the game where Jon Carew and Steffen Iversen could have sealed the three points for us.

"From the bench, our goal looked very open for their chance and he must have miscued that ball completely, but that's football sometimes."