Scotland recall Fletchers as Kris Commons is overlooked by Craig Levein

Pressure to deliver is firmly on Craig Levein

Two opening home World Cup qualifiers, and two draws against Serbia and Macedonia have meant Scotland boss Craig Levein is under immense pressure to turn things around in the two away games against local rivals Wales and talented Belgium on October 12 and 16 respectively. The two home draws in September – 0-0 against the Serbs and 1-1 against Macedonia – have put Scotland in a tight situation in a difficult group that also contains Croatia, and the record has to be set straight as far as the Scots are concerned. At least a win is a must in the next two games, or else the road to Rio would be even more bumpy.

The equation is easy as Scotland need creativity and goals upfront, and Craig Levein has boosted the confidence of his football crazy countrymen by recalling Scotland’s most expensive player of all time, Steven Fletcher, and including long term absentee Darren Fletcher in a 25-man strong squad. Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher has been in top form for Martin O’Neill’s side in the Barclays Premier League since his 14 million pound move from Wolves during the summer, and his five goals in four games for the North-East club have warranted an immediate recall to a struggling Scotland frontline.

Manchester United man Darren Fletcher’s inclusion in the national team is another shot in the arm for Craig Levein, as the 28-year old Scotland captain has been described as ‘inspirational’ by his manager after returning to fitness from a chronic bowel condition that had kept him out of action for ten months. The return of the Fletchers may just have come in the nick of time, although critics would argue that at least Steven Fletcher should have been in the squad right from the start, as Kenny Miller is too old and slow to trouble any international defense, and Blackburn’s Jordan Rhodes is not experienced enough to thrive under the pressure that World Cup qualification brings. So there had to be some peace deal between Levein and Fletcher, after the latter was not considered for international selection, having criticised his manager for his 4-6-0 policy against the Czech Republic in a Euro 2012 qualifier. The already tense situation between the player and the coach then blew out of proportion, when Fletcher sent a text message to a Scotland backroom staff that he did not wish to be selected for a Carling Nations Cup match against Northern Ireland in February 2011, and Craig Levein was stubborn enough not to include a free scoring footballer, who has had a great eye for goals in subsequent matches. Yet, pressure to bring a fine player back into the squad did tell on the 47-year old manager, as Scotland are now desperate for three points in Cardiff and Brussels.

Scotland welcome back Steven Fletcher

Regarding the infamous Fletcher issue, the manager, while announcing his squad for the next two qualifiers, did admit that it was wrong to continue with the feud as it clearly hurt Scotland as a whole. The former Dundee United boss was quoted as saying,

“It goes back to the original situation. I regret that, at that time, I didn’t do something about it. That was the time to tackle it.

“The boy is probably just as stubborn as me. The fans said, if he really wanted to play for Scotland he would do something about it. I was saying that as well.

“But there is no point in going over old ground.

“We had a decent conversation on Monday.

“In my time as a manager I’ve had lots of confrontations with players. But none have ever lasted this long.

“The important thing now is we move on, and we both have the chance to do as well as we can for Scotland in these games. I keep coming back to it, it’s a hugely positive thing.”

Now that things have been sorted out between the two men, Steven Fletcher would hope to increase his tally of just one goal for the national team, against Wales and Belgium, keeping in pace with his hot Premier League form. Although, critics might argue that the damage has been already done, when Fletcher was left out of the home games against Serbia and Macedonia last month.

With Scott Brown returning from injury, the Scotland squad now look efficient enough to cause one or two decent problems for Wales and Belgium. There is more depth and creativity in this team named by Levein with the inclusions of Steven Fletcher, Darren Fletcher and Scott Brown. Yet, as always, there is something to talk about after a national squad appointment. Celtic midfielder Kris Common is again overlooked by the Scotland boss, after the 29-year old midfielder impressed for Neil Lennon’s side this season, and the player has sought an explanation from his manager as to why he had been left out of squad, after Craig Levein himself termed the player’s exclusion as ‘really unlucky.’

Celtic players and coach alike have been left ‘baffled’ by Commons’ constant deprivation from the Scotland squad and the player had to say this to the national team boss,

“It would be nice of him to tell me if I am not in his plans, but at the minute I am in limbo.

“Everyone seems to think I should be in the squad but the only man who doesn’t want me in the squad is the manager, so it would be nice to find out if he has a problem with my game or attitude.

“I have no idea (why). I was called up last season a couple of times.

“I have had no text message, no phone call, nothing from the SFA, so it is kind of baffling for me, but if Craig Levein genuinely thinks there are seven players better than me then that’s his view.

“I am still disappointed not to be involved in the squad. I have to forget about it while they crack on and try to get a result against Wales and Belgium.

“So good luck to them, and hopefully I can do enough to get into the next squad.”