Fletcher needs games - Levein

02 August 2011 14:01
Scotland boss Craig Levein admits Darren Fletcher might not be back in his squad for the games against the Czech Republic and Lithuania.[LNB] The midfielder has been excluded from Levein's squad for the friendly against Denmark, which takes place at Hampden next Wednesday, as he builds up his fitness following a mystery virus.[LNB]Fletcher missed two months of last season's run-in for Manchester United, although he played 90 minutes against Blackpool on the final day of the Premier League campaign.[LNB]The 27-year-old was left out of United's tour part for their pre-season trip to the United States in order to work on his fitness back at the club's training ground.[LNB]Fletcher last week declared himself "fighting fit" but Levein feels the player needs games before throwing him into the Euro 2012 qualifiers at Hampden.[LNB]Scotland host the Czechs on September 3 before Lithuania visit three days later, and Levein's men realistically need to win both matches to keep their play-off hopes alive before facing Liechtenstein and Spain away the following month.[LNB]Levein said: "It's extremely difficult for me if he's not playing for his club to include him in the squad.[LNB]"I have spoken to Darren twice in the last two weeks just to make sure he's progressing.[LNB]"I'm in constant contact with him. I went down to meet him at the end of last season and had a long chat with him.[LNB]"I desperately want him back in the squad, more than anybody, but he has to have played some football.[LNB]"I can't just put him back in the squad because he's a good lad.[LNB]"I think it's important he is back on the field for Manchester United and back playing 90 minutes, and also gets his confidence back because he has been out for a long time.[LNB]"I hope to have him available for the October matches and if things go exceptionally well, then I'll have a look at it again for the September games."[LNB]Wigan midfielder James McArthur was another casualty of Levein's eagerness to have his players fully match-fit.[LNB]"He was in the squad towards the end of last season and did very well, but he hasn't been playing for his club very regularly," Levein said.[LNB]"It starts to become difficult for me to put people in the squad if they haven't been getting regular matches.[LNB]"There are people in the squad who aren't playing as regularly as I would like.[LNB]"I need my players to playing on a regular basis.[LNB]"Some other guys might find they are not involved in the next squad if they are not playing football."[LNB]New Rangers left-back Lee Wallace was excluded following an injury-hit campaign at Hearts, while James McFadden is unsurprisingly left out as he looks for a new club after being released by Birmingham and after recovering from a cruciate ligament injury.[LNB]Levein has called up Dundee United striker David Goodwillie, but the 22-year-old looks set to join Blackburn unless Rangers are successful with attempts to gazump Rovers, and he might find himself soon facing a battle for regular action.[LNB]Levein said: "That's the difficulty of my job - trying to decide who can step in if needed and play for 90 minutes without having played regularly.[LNB]"There isn't an answer to that one. Some players respond differently to not playing every week than others.[LNB]"I have to look at it on an individual basis and make my judgement, whether I think someone is capable of being involved for 90 minutes.[LNB]"Some guys might only be needed for a short period of time.[LNB]"It's something I look at closely when I'm naming the squad."[LNB]As well as Goodwillie, Levein recalled three players who have recovered from injury.[LNB]West Brom midfielder Graham Dorrans, Leeds winger Robert Snodgrass and Tottenham full-back Alan Hutton return while Chris Maguire, Russell Martin, Ross McCormack and McArthur drop out.

Source: Team_Talk