Split Loyalties For Ferguson?

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has warned midfielder Barry Ferguson of the difficulties of combining playing for club and country at the age of 32 if he decides to make himself available for Scotland. New Scotland Manager Craig Levein has wiped the slate clean regarding previously imposed bans and wants to talk to Ferguson about his availability for his country.  McLeish is worried that Ferguson will be targeted as the scapegoat if he fails to produce his best form every game for his country. Ferguson is considering whether to make an international return next season after Levein said he would welcome him back into the fold.

Former Scotland manager McLeish said: "I am not going to deny anybody playing for their country. But I have told Barry purely from an experienced point of view how tough it will be to combine both - especially for a player like him because there'll be a lot of pressure on. He will expected to be 100% every game for Scotland the best player every game. If he goes below that level of being the best, they will probably start picking on him. It's not my decision. I think it's common knowledge what my thoughts are. Of course, I want him to play for Scotland. But would the physical demands be a concern? Absolutely, I know what it's like to come back from international games and then be up for it on Saturday. I'd come back jaded a little bit leggy and one-paced at the weekend game. Sometimes you got away with it, sometimes you didn't. That's why managers frequently rotate the big squads, international players who play for the top clubs."