Source: Team_Talk
Injury costs McGregor Scotland recall
Scotland manager Craig Levein was set to end McGregor's international exile by picking him for his first game on March 3 at Hampden.[LNB]However, Levein has been told by Rangers manager Walter Smith that the injuries McGregor sustained in the incident outside a nightclub have put his participation in the Ibrox clash with Celtic into doubt.[LNB]The 28-year-old, who has not played for his country for almost a year due to his involvement in the 'Boozegate' affair, reportedly needed hospital treatment for injuries including an eye problem.[LNB]Rangers have not specified McGregor's injuries, but they confirmed he had been involved in an incident in the early hours of Sunday morning.[LNB]And Levein said on Monday: "I got a phonecall from Walter last night explaining what had happened and that he was a doubt for the Rangers game next weekend.[LNB]"I'm looking for certainty. It doesn't look like he's going to be fit, so it's nice and simple.[LNB]"Once this game is out the way, he will be considered for the next match."[LNB]Neil Alexander has benefited from the latest controversy in McGregor's life by joining Craig Gordon and David Marshall in the Scotland squad and he is now in line to face Celtic in the crucial Scottish Premier League clash.[LNB]The recalls for Rangers pair Kris Boyd and Lee McCulloch, who both withdrew their services under Levein's predecessor George Burley, were anticipated.[LNB]Rangers defender Andy Webster, who played under Levein during his current season-long loan spell with Dundee United, was also included as expected but there were surprise call-ups for his fellow Tannadice defenders Paul Dixon and Garry Kenneth.[LNB]Centre-half Kenneth and Dixon, who will compete with Lee Wallace for the left-back position, are the only uncapped players in the 24-man squad to face one of Scotland's Euro 2012 qualifying rivals, but Levein insisted there was no Tannadice bias in his selection.[LNB]"That's not how I pick the team," he said. "Garry Kenneth is in the squad because centre-back is a position where we are pretty thin on the ground.[LNB]"The left-back position, I don't mind saying, is a quandary for me, we have tried a few over the past few years. I'm looking for someone to establish themselves as a permanent left-back."[LNB]Levein claimed the door was not necessarily closed to 39-year-old Rangers defender David Weir despite his omission and revealed a loss of form was behind the exclusion of one-time captain Stephen McManus, who joined Middlesbrough on loan from Celtic last month.[LNB]"I think it will do him some good just to concentrate on his club football for a while," Levein said.[LNB]"I have not shut the door on Stephen McManus at all, I think he will be a really important part of the squad.[LNB]"But I think he has had a little bit of a crisis in confidence with not being involved with Celtic and he's just had a move, and has to take in the new surroundings and playing with new players in a new league.[LNB]"So I thought it was an opportunity to bring Garry Kenneth in and have a look at him."[LNB]Elsewhere, Bristol City midfielder Paul Hartley, 33, was recalled along with his team-mate Chris Iwelumo, who recently joined the Robins on loan from Wolves.[LNB]Cardiff striker Ross McCormack was left out while there was no place for Barry Ferguson, as expected, with Levein declaring there was no update on his attempts to persuade the Birmingham midfielder to return to the fold next season.[LNB]Scotland squad to face Czech Republic on March 3: Alexander (Rangers), Gordon (Sunderland), Marshall (Cardiff City); Hutton (Tottenham), Berra (Wolves), Caldwell (Wigan), Dixon (Dundee United), Kenneth (Dundee United), Wallace (Hearts), Webster (Rangers) Whittaker (Rangers), Adam (Blackpool), Brown (Celtic), Dorrans (West Brom) , Fletcher (Manchester United), Hartley (Bristol City), McCulloch (Rangers), McFadden (Birmingham), Robson (Middlesbrough), Thomson (Rangers), Boyd (Rangers), Fletcher (Burnley), Iwelumo (Wolves), Miller (Rangers).[LNB][LNB] Scottish Premier League. Click here to bet.
