Best. News. Ever.
Several news outlets are reporting this morning that after 10 months out of football while battling chronic intestinal issues, Scotland captain Darren Fletcher could be suiting up for the national team again within a month. Fletcher was not named to Craig Levein’s roster to face Australia in a friendly next week (roster below), but Levein revealed that Fletcher played 45 minutes in a practice match last week and that he will continue to train with Scotland as they approach the match on the 15th. While nothing was said about a return to Manchester United, the club appeared to be preparing for the worst a few weeks ago when it went public with a job offer for Fletcher if he is forced to retire due to his condition. This leads me to believe that there has either a) been an improvement in Fletcher’s condition since then or that United are looking for a way to ease Fletcher out as a player whether he is fit or not.Craig Levein’s roster for the match against Australia at Hibernian’s Easter Road next week will have a bit of a new look to it due to some injuries, player movement (or non-movement in one case), and as a result of the fallout from Rangers’ demotion to the Third Division.
INJURED
- Scott Brown (Celtic)
- Steven Whittaker (Norwich City)
- Craig Makail-Smith (Brighton)
Defenders Lee Wallace and Kirk Broadfoot, both at Rangers, have been left out of the team and Levein has all but explicitly said that if they remain in the Third Division they are unlikely to be picked.
Goalkeeper Craig Gordon, most recently at Sunderland but currently a free agent, was not selected and Kenny Miller, who recently joined Vancouver Whitecaps was not selected by Levein who wants the striker to “settled” and “fit” with his new team. Miller is expected to be back with Scotland for the September and October World Cup qualifying matches.
Former Ross County midfielder Don Cowie will be in line for his 11th cap.
Scotland squad:
Goalkeepers:
- McGregor (Besiktas)
- Gilks (Blackpool)
- Marshall (Cardiff)
Defenders
- Bardsley (Sunderland)
- Berra (Wolves)
- Caldwell (Wigan)
- Fox (Southampton)
- Hanley (Blackburn)
- Hutton (Aston Villa)
- Martin (Norwich)
- Mulgrew (Celtic)
- Webster (Hearts)
Midfielders
- Adam (Liverpool)
- Bannan (Aston Villa)
- Cowie (Cardiff)
- Dorrans (West Brom)
- Forrest (Celtic)
- Morrison (West Brom)
- Phillips (Blackpool)
- Snodgrass (Norwich)
Forwards
- Mackie (QPR)
- Maloney (Wigan)
- Naismith (Everton)
- Rhodes (Huddersfield)
