Scotland manager Craig Levein has revealed Wolves striker Steven Fletcher turned down a place in his squad for next week's Carling Nations Cup clash with Northern Ireland.
Fletcher is reported to have sent a text message to a Scottish Football Association official declaring his unwillingness to play in the match. Levein was ready to recall Fletcher after dropping him from the squad for the friendly against Faroe Islands in November and not playing him in October's Euro 2012 qualifiers against Czech Republic and Spain.
Levein said, according to newspaper reports: "Steven Fletcher was selected, but he has since indicated that he did not wish to be selected for Scotland."
The decision calls into doubt whether Levein will want to pick Fletcher for Scotland in the future.
Levein said: "What I have found since taking this job is that I want to work with people who want to play for Scotland.
"I look at guys like Phil Bardsley, who has changed his nationality to play for Scotland and, after the Spain game, he was the proudest man in the world because his dad was in tears watching his son playing for Scotland.
"Jamie Mackie is another one: his grandfather is over the moon that he's being picked for Scotland and these guys want to run their heart out and do their best for Scotland and they made their families immensely proud.
"I just think back to the Czech Republic game when I asked the players to play in a certain way.
"They did everything I asked and, as a manager, if you have ideas, you want players who are willing to follow them.
"What I don't want is anyone in the squad who is not of that mind. For the life of me I just can't understand anyone who doesn't want to be part of what is happening."
Source: PA
