Scotland blues for desperate McFadden

Birmingham striker James McFadden has revealed that he considered ending his Scotland career after failing to get into coach George Burley’s starting lineup.

The 26-year-old former Everton and Motherwell player has been a key figure in the national team for several years, but he still found himself on the bench for the demoralising 0-4 World Cup qualifiers loss to Norway in Oslo this month.

McFadden said he hates travelling with Scotland and not getting to play and is desperate to start the must-win Group Nine clash with Macedonia in two weeks’ time.

Rangers duo Kris Boyd and Lee McCulloch have both walked away from the national team in the last year and McFadden admits to having briefly considered doing the same.

“I think there comes a time in every player’s career when he thinks about stuff like that,” he said in the Daily Record.

“You think to yourself, ‘I hate going on these trips and I hate not playing. Why am I here? Maybe I should be sitting in the house’.

“But it passes quickly enough. No matter how fed up you get, you realise this is your country – and you can’t beat the feeling of playing for your country.

“Okay, some players have enough of it and decide it’s not for them. But I don’t think I’ll ever get to that stage. The only way I can see myself walking away from Scotland is when I feel I’m not good enough to make a difference.

“Even if I’m sitting on the bench, I’m still itching to get on and make a difference. Let’s face it, about half of my appearances for Scotland have come from the bench anyway.

“Different managers do different things and you never know what is going to happen in any game so I’ll be ready whenever I’m needed. I’m only 26. By the time the next World Cup starts, I’ll be 27. If we get there, it would be a dream come true.”