Alan Pattullo: With Barry Ferguson calling the tune, Craig Levein has been left dangling with a dilemma

Published on Thursday 16 September 2010 18:06

It is no secret that Craig Levein had real concerns about the length of time he would regard himself as redundant between international fixtures, as he considered swapping the day-to-day intensity of club football for the post of Scotland manager.

• Birmingham City's Barry Ferguson is in top form and could be a better midfield partner for Darren Fletcher than Scott Brown

The reality has proved much different. There might be some downtime eventually, with Scotland taking an 11-month break from competitive fixtures after next month's double-header commitments, but Levein has enough on his plate to make anyone's head spin. Having thought the Barry Ferguson issue had been put to bed after a latest attempt to entice the player back failed last month, he is now forced to re-consider a matter which has already split the Tartan Army in two.

Even this group's two spokesmen were singing from different hymn sheets yesterday. One was in favour of Ferguson's return, in order "to complement Darren Fletcher". The other was heavily against it: "What makes him think he can come back now?" But most acknowledge one truth: Scotland are not so good that they can afford to rule out anybody, particularly someone who few can dispute would enhance a group of players we are forever being told are plainly not good enough.

• Craig Levein pledges to keep fans informed about Barry Ferguson

• Fans would not welcome Barry Ferguson back

Having earned what some believe to be a stay of execution following Stephen McManus' last-minute winner against Liechtenstein, Levein will feel a little uneasy about making the bold step of re-calling Ferguson for games against Czech Republic and Spain. But if he doesn't do it then, will there be another chance to employ his talents? Scotland's next competitive fixture after the conclusion of this run of Group I matches is not until September next year, when Ferguson, well into his 33rd year, will be another 12 months older by then, and possibly through the other end of this current purple patch of form.

Whichever decision Levein makes, tens of thousands will disagree with it. The Scotland manager can add this to his in-tray, which also includes such conundrums as what to do with a problem like James McFadden? This issue will only fizz up again in the days leading up to the announcement of his next squad, at the end of this month. For the Scotland manager, Ferguson's apparent about-turn, articulated in an interview with BBC Radio Scotland on Wednesday evening, could be termed as bitter-sweet.

He might enthuse at the qualities Ferguson can bring to a Scotland midfield which has not managed to excel in his absence. Levein must also consider the thorny question of Scott Brown, and whether he is even worth a starting place in the side for next month's crucial matches. The Celtic skipper is still struggling to impose himself on games and is clearly struggling to shake off a long-standing heel injury.He was replaced just after the hour mark against Hearts on Sunday, and was later described by his manager Neil Lennon as being "sloppy in possession".

There are many who believe Ferguson to be a better option next to Fletcher than Brown. On the same weekend as Brown was hooked by a clearly dissatisfied Lennon, Ferguson posted a man-of-the-match performance for Birmingham against Liverpool.

This form has not encouraged Alex McLeish to support any desire on Ferguson's part to play for Scotland again. The Birmingham manager might be further disinclined to endorse his skipper's wish for an international return following a recent long-distance spat with Levein, whose public condemnation of McFadden, another of McLeish's players, raised hackles as well as eyebrows.

McLeish was clearly furious that his player had been singled out in such a way, and made a point of talking him up after the game with Liverpool, when McFadden was another stand-out. McLeish understands Levein's wish to have all the best players available to him, but is concerned about the impact it might have on Birmingham.

"Scotland have two hard games coming up against Czech Republic and Spain and I know Barry would excel in the company of those two teams," McLeish said yesterday. "But then he would have to come back and play away at the Emirates against Arsenal. So it is a big ask for a player 32 years of age. But it is up to him. He has been excellent for us. His performance last week against Liverpool was as good as I've seen from him. He was outstanding."

Levein's substitution of McFadden at half-time against Liechtenstein was guaranteed to come in for heavy scrutiny, while he is also prepared to make stinging criticisms in public. Even prior to that game he had questioned McFadden's work rate. But this is perhaps the biggest call he has had to make, and he clearly would have preferred it if he had been permitted by Ferguson to at least be seen to be in charge of the situation. Now, whatever happens, it looks like Ferguson is the one calling the tune, while keeping the manager - whose pursuit of him has so far been dignified - dangling.