Hearts' Andy Driver commits to Scotland

Published on Friday 5 February 2010 08:33

ANDY DRIVER has pledged his international future to Scotland following a meeting with national coach Craig Levein yesterday and will now attempt to help the country qualify for the 2012 European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.

Levein has convinced the Hearts winger to choose Scotland over England and offered assurances that he can become a central member of the national team for years to come. Driver was undecided over his international status after representing England during last summer's European Under-21 Championship. He was born in Oldham but moved north at the age of 11, and now qualifies for Scotland because he has undergone a minimum five years' schooling here.

His full international debut, barring injury, will double as Levein's first match in charge, the friendly against Czech republic at Hampden Park on 3 March.

The qualification draw for Euro 2012 takes place in Warsaw this Sunday and Levein has now concluded his tour of the UK to assess which players are both eligible and committed to the Scotland cause. He has held tentative discussions with Birmingham City's Barry Ferguson over a possible international return following the midfielder's part in last year's 'Boozegate' scandal. Allan McGregor, the other protagonist in that affair, and Kris Boyd will both be named in the squad to face the Czechs.

Boyd walked out on Levein's predecessor, George Burley, after being denied a place in the side but is now willing to return. McGregor is also available after his initial ban alongside Ferguson for the antics at Cameron House hotel.

Meanwhile, Scotland have provisionally arranged a friendly in Sweden on 17 August as the final stage of their preparations for the Euro 2012 qualifiers, which begin in September. The match will be cancelled, however, should both nations be drawn together.