Source: FOOTYMAD
Adams Not Long For Championship
Craig Levein can't see Charlie Adam sticking with relegated Blackpool Charlie Adam will still to be plying his trade in the Barclays Premier League next season despite Blackpool losing out in the relegation lottery on Sunday. So predicts Scotland manager Craig Levein. The national coach has named Adam and team-mate Stephen Crainey in the team to face Wales in the Carling Nations Cup tonight just a few days after they suffered the heartbreak of relegation with Blackpool. Adam has been linked with both Liverpool and Tottenham in January after being a hit down south. Levein predicts further interest in the highly-rated midfielder in the coming weeks. And, if Adams moves to a club in the English top flight, that is good news as far as Levein is concerned. He said: "I would love all of our players to be playing in the Premier League, at the top level. Charlie attracted a lot of interest in January and I would expect that just to be resurrected in the summer. My view is that he will be playing in the Premier League next season." However, Levein admits the national team does owe a debt of gratitude to Blackpool for their part in the development of some of his international players. He added: "Blackpool have been wonderful for those two players this season. Of course, there has been major disappointment that the club has been relegated but Ian Holloway and Blackpool have been great for both Stephen and Charlie, and Matt Gilks for that matter. I think we have a lot to thank Blackpool for." Crainey will be involved against Wales but will not play in Sunday night's game against the Republic of Ireland. Levein said: "Stephen Crainey to his credit has travelled over and he will play on Tuesday night. He is going back on Thursday to have an operation on Friday. I'm grateful he has made the effort to come over because it would have been easy for him to say he had an operation at the end of the week. He was determined to come across." However, one player Levein does not expect to be leaving the Scotland squad hotel is Aberdeen forward Chris Maguire, despite speculation regarding being invited to attend a medical at Derby. He said: "I did have a conversation very briefly with Chris but I'm sure that having an opportunity to be involved in the Scotland squad is far more important at this minute in time than having a medical." According to Levein, the desire to win this tournament is strong within his players despite coming at the end of the season. He said: "An obvious indication is the amount of withdrawals. From the original squad named we have lost Craig Mackail-Smith for a very good reason in that he is playing in the (League One) play-Off final, and Kris Commons. To lose just two, and one of them through no fault of his own, shows the commitment of the players and their willingness to come here and attempt to win this tournament. We know that every game of international football is very tough. Wales have had some call-offs but if you look at the strength of the Welsh team who managed to beat us recently, there is a warning there that we will have to be at our best to get what we want, which is to win this match."
