Steven Fletcher hints at Scotland return to give Craig Levein a tough call ⢠Sunderland striker prompts speculation with Twitter comment ⢠Olive branch expected to be rejected by Craig Levein Share 0 Email Press association guardian.co.uk, Monday 17 September 2012 10.50 BST Steven Fletcher has not played for Scotland since angering the manager by withdrawing from the squad last year. Steven Fletcher has indicated he is willing to end his international exile if asked to return to the Scotland fold by the manager, Craig Levein. However, according to BBC Scotland, Fletcher's olive branch will be rejected, despite growing calls from the Tartan Army for the Sunderland striker to return after Scotland's World Cup qualifying campaign began with draws against Serbia and Macedonia, leading to some criticism of Levein. The 25-year-old Fletcher has not played for his country since angering Levein by withdrawing from a squad to face Northern Ireland last year. The manager has dug his heels in over the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man ever since, insisting he has to make the first move if he wants to start a reconciliation process. Fletcher has not gone that far, but when asked by a fan on Twitter "would you pull on your Scotland jersey next month if Craig Levein asked you to come back?" he replied by saying "yes". With goals in short supply, Levein has scarcely used the likes of Ross McCormack, Jordan Rhodes and Robert Snodgrass. Fletcher has made a fine start to life as a Sunderland player, scoring three goals in three games since moving from Wolves. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Looks like Levein is sticking to his guns the stubborn twat. Cutting his nose off to spite his face? Surely as a manager you have to do what's best for the team & put differences to one side? Still Scotland's loss is our gain.
If Scotland dn't start scoring , Levein won't be in a job much longer. All Fletch has to do is keep banging them in , and Leveins successor will come calling.
Totally this. One more poor result and a lack of goals and the Jock media will declare war on him. There is already unrest amongst the tartan army natives and that will soon manifest itself at games as well. Gordon Strachan is waiting in the wings to take over and he isnt that stupid to ignore a free scoring Fletcher as his ONLY top league striker in the country.
Wasn't it after the game where scotland played the formation 4-6-0 against someone fairly harmless that Fletcher decided he ad better things to do with his time. Unless you are Barcelona you cant play that way. If Fletcher now wants a return it looks like it will take Levein to leave or more realistically be sacked, before he will play again. On paper their defence is pretty shocking but I thought they have a fairly decent midfiel and attack if they played their better players.
I'm of the personal opinion that it's good for a players confidence to play for his country. For Levein to not pick Fletch, when he is a natural finisher, and the country is in dire needs of goals, is bordering on outrageous. 'no man is bigger than the team' says Levein. Your right yoiu ****ing dickhead, no manager is either, so practice what you preach, and pick your best players. Scotland have a great chance to qualify from that group WITH goals. They will blow it without them.
Don't want him to go and play with some half baked team, he risks injury and catching their poor habits........frankly Scotland are no better than your average championship side AT BEST.
Looks like MON disagrees lads. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...teven-Fletcher-row-Craig-Levein.html?ITO=1490
