Throwing the Toys Oot the Pram

We live in changing times. Sadly, values among some people these days leave a lot to be desired. The Rangers footballer Kris Boyd has said he will not play for Scotland again under present manager George Burley. "I left a message on George Burley's phone last night and he hadn't got back to me," said Boyd. "I will not be playing for George Burley again, but I hope to be back in a Scotland jersey again one day."

I think back to the days when Scotland had a half decent team. Players such as Kenny Dalglish, Joe Jordan, Billy Bremner, Graeme Souness - players the likes of Kris Boyd would struggle to lace their boots. Those players considered it an honour to play for their country and would walk over broken glass to do so. When Bremner was involved in a nightclub altercation whilst with the Scotland squad in 1975 he was banned for life for playing for his country again. The little man was devastated by this and many say he never recovered from it.

Boyd isn't a regular starter for Rangers either, hence George Burley's logic of keeping him on the substitutes bench, preferring players who are regular contributors to their clubs. Are we to surmise that Boyd will refuse to play for Rangers until he gets a regular starting position? I suspect not - his employer will pay the former Kilmarnock striker a hefty salary, one Boyd knows he won't get elsewhere in Scotland.

No doubt the west of Scotland media will use this to kick Burley, a man already on the floor following Scotland's less than spectacular start to the World Cup qualifying campaign. But do we really want a player with such an attitude playing for our country? Does Boyd think his absence will have a detrimental affect on Scotland's chances of making it to the World Cup Finals in South Africa in 2010? If he does then his ego is of monumental proportions - Boyd isn't exactly Denis Law as his infrequent appearances for Rangers prove.

It may be argued Scotland can ill afford to be without Boyd's services as some might say he's a 'proven goalscorer'. But we can certainly do without his selfish attitude and his spitting the dummy out mentality. Perhaps Boyd should look at the man who captained Scotland on Saturday. Darren Fletcher is far from a regular at Manchester United. But the lad from Dalkeith never complains and is proud to make a contribution to the European champions. Only last week Fletcher signed an extension to his current contract keeping him at Old Trafford for another three years.

He is the type of player I want to to see playing for Scotland. Fletcher may not have had the best of games against Norway but he gave his all and his commitment to his country can never be questioned.

Unlike a certain prima donna from Ayrshire who thinks he's the Pele of the the south side of Glasgow...