Source: Team_Talk
Caldwell sets sights on Spain clash
Gary Caldwell has ruled himself out of Scotland's opening Euro 2012 qualifiers but remains hopeful of facing world champions Spain in October.[LNB] The 28-year-old Wigan defender will miss the start of the new season after undergoing surgery on both hips over the summer.[LNB]Caldwell has no specific comeback target but is confident of being back in action before Vicente Del Bosque's men visit Hampden Park on October 12.[LNB]Caldwell said: "It is just a case of taking each day as it comes and making sure I am ready when I come back.[LNB]"I don't think I'll make the first couple - I'll be struggling - but hopefully the Spain and Czech Republic games.[LNB]"I'll be doing my very best to get in the Wigan team first and hopefully back in the Scotland team.[LNB]"The surgeon didn't want to give dates. He said he's had people back in 10 weeks to five months, so somewhere in amongst that.[LNB]"Hopefully it'll be nearer the 10 week side of things."[LNB]Caldwell joined Wigan from Celtic in January but played in pain in the closing months of the campaign.[LNB]He was sent off in Wigan's final Barclays Premier League game, an 8-0 thrashing at Chelsea, and had the first of his operations soon after.[LNB]Caldwell, speaking at a football coaching event in Wigan, organised by Scotland official partners Nationwide Building Society, added: "It was really wear and tear on both hips.[LNB]"It was something I had been playing with for a while and needed done so hopefully I can play next season pain free.[LNB]"It was a hard summer, probably the worst one of my life - on crutches constantly.[LNB]"But I got rid of the crutches yesterday and that is the hard part done now. Now it is up to me to make sure I am ready."[LNB]Scotland's international season begins with a friendly against Sweden next month before they face Lithuania and Liechtenstein in qualifiers in September.[LNB]The national team are entering a new era under the management of Craig Levein and Caldwell is confident the Scots can at last make an impact in a major competition.[LNB]Scotland have not qualified for the finals of a major tournament since 1998 but Caldwell said: "It's great - a new manager, a new approach. Everyone has a clean slate.[LNB]"The first game was really positive, beating the Czech Republic at home. That breeds confidence.[LNB]"Over the years, when we are confident and have a system that suits us, we have shown we can get some good results.[LNB]"We are going in with confidence we can qualify because it has been too long since Scotland played in a major finals."[LNB]
