Forget Boyd – give me commitment of Weir every time says Burley

GEORGE Burley has underlined his contempt for any uncertain Scotland players by insisting that, in the matter of seeking membership of the national team, only patriots need apply.

In naming a 26-man squad for next week's friendly against the Diego Maradona-led Argentina, Burley also suggested that his most notorious defector, Kris Boyd, could take lessons in commitment from his Rangers team-mate, David Weir.

The manager was responding to a query concerning Boyd's prolific form for his club in the weeks since he made the withdrawal of his services official in the immediate aftermath of his non-appearance in the World Cup qualifier against Norway on 11 October.

He was asked if he regretted Boyd's decision and the hypothetical question of whether his free-scoring recent performances would have been enough to earn him inclusion in the team for the Argentina match. "Look, we need players with total commitment," said Burley, a statement of resolve that was also directed at anyone else in the group having doubts about playing for him. "I'm Scotland through and through and I need people who are the same. I went to a World Cup with the national team and didn't even get on the bench, but that didn't affect my commitment. The bottom line is that you have to be committed to playing for Scotland, even if you don't always make the team.

"You'll see what I mean if you look at David Weir. He's now 38 and I haven't included him in the squad for friendly matches, but he's assured me he'll be there any time I need him. You may be sure David will be in the squad for the World Cup matches coming up next year.

"I can't comment on what Kris Boyd has been doing for Rangers. All I can say is what happened before with regard to Scotland. As manager, it's my job to go and look at matches, watch players and assess their potential worth to the team. I had watched Rangers in potentially testing matches against Hibs and Celtic and Kris Boyd didn't play. I did see him against Kilmarnock, when he did well and scored."

In what seemed to be an oblique reference back to his earlier criticism of Boyd's attitude in training with the Scotland squad in the week before the Norway match, Burley also made a point that should be construed as a warning to any player summoned for international duty.

"Every player has a chance of being called up," said Burley. "If he does well for his club, he gets a chance. But he then has to show what he can do for us, not just his club. Take young Ross McCormack, for example. He has done really well at Cardiff this season, he's already scored eleven goals. He deserves to be back in the senior squad, but he's quite new to it and still has to show what he can do for us. That applies to everybody who comes into the squad."

McCormack, in fact, is one of a handful of players who will be monitored by Burley over the next week for signs that they are approaching full fitness after absences through injury. The others are Barry Ferguson – the captain back in contention for the first time since last season – Alan Hutton, Craig Gordon and Gary Naysmith.

"I had actually thought Ross wouldn't be available because of injury," said Burley, "but I spoke to his manager, Dave Jones, yesterday and he said he'd be fine. Barry isn't yet a hundred per cent after being out for a long time, but he has another two club games between now and the international.

"Craig Gordon has missed a couple for Sunderland, but I spoke to him last week and he thinks he'll be okay for the coming weekend.

"Alan Hutton was out for some time as well and has been gradually getting back to his peak and the same applies to Gary Naysmith. So we'll keep an eye on them and see how they are by the time they join up.

"I know everyone is excited by the game, especially now that Maradona is in charge, but we also have to approach it with a view to the World Cup qualifiers we have coming up against Holland in Amsterdam and Iceland at Hampden in the spring.

"But it should be a great occasion, playing one of the strongest countries in the world and managed by one of the two or three greatest players in history."

Maradona's appearance, in fact, has created such strong media interest from all over the world that the SFA plans to expand the capacity of the press from its present 350 seats to between 400 and 450.

"We have received accreditation applications from everywhere, including Australia and Fiji," said Rob Shorthouse, the association's head of communications. "It looks very much as though we will have to increase the capacity of the press box.

"Ticket sales so far have reached 25,000. For a friendly at this time of the year, that figure would normally be 10,000, so we're talking about two-and-a-half times what we would expect. This increase in interest has happened since the news broke that Maradona would be the new Argentina manager. It's quite exceptional."

SCOTLAND SQUAD

For friendly with Argentina at Hampden Park on 19 November

GOALKEEPERS

Craig Gordon (Sunderland)
Allan McGregor (Rangers)
David Marshall (Norwich City)

DEFENDERS

Graham Alexander (Burnley)
Darren Barr (Falkirk)
Christophe Berra (Hearts)
Kirk Broadfoot (Rangers)
Gary Caldwell (Celtic)
Alan Hutton (Tottenham)
Jamie McAllister(Bristol City)
Stephen McManus (Celtic)
Gary Naysmith (Sheffield Utd)

MIDFIELDERS

Scott Brown(Celtic)
Kris Commons (Derby County)
Barry Ferguson (Rangers)
Darren Fletcher(Manchester Utd)
Paul Hartley (Celtic)
Shaun Maloney (Celtic)
James Morrison (West Brom)
Barry Robson (Celtic)

FORWARDS

David Clarkson (Motherwell)
Steven Fletcher (Hibernian)
Chris Iwelumo (Wolves)
Ross McCormack (Cardiff City)
James McFadden (Birmingham)
Kenny Miller (Rangers)