Kenny Miller hoping Barry Ferguson will return to help boost Scotland's cause for 2012

Published on Monday 8 February 2010 22:11

KENNY Miller has urged Barry Ferguson to end his international exile and help boost Scotland's chances of qualifying for the 2012 European Championships.

Ferguson was banished from the national team by the Scottish Football Association for his role in the infamous 'Boozegate' affair, along with former Rangers team-mate Allan McGregor.

The duo were dropped by former national team manager George Burley for the World Cup qualifier against Iceland last April after a late-night drinking session following the game against the Netherlands the weekend before. They were subsequently banned for life by the SFA for making obscene gestures while sat on the sidelines during the Iceland match.

However, new Scotland manager Craig Levein has since paved the way for 32-year-old midfielder Ferguson to resurrect his international career, but the player is keen to focus on his club career with Birmingham and has yet to reach a decision over his future with Scotland.

While a question mark remains over whether he will add to the 45 caps he already has, Miller has no doubts about the impact Ferguson could make if he does make a dramatic return to the national fold.

The Rangers and Scotland striker said: "Barry is a big loss to us, there is no doubt about that.

"I've been watching him since he went (to Birmingham] and I watched his game yesterday (the 2-1 win against Wolves on Sunday). I thought he was absolutely outstanding.

"He is playing in arguably the best league in the world. It maybe wasn't against one of the top teams yesterday, no disrespect to Wolves, but I thought he was an absolute stand-out.

"He is definitely going to be a big addition to the (Scotland) squad if he decides to come back and play."

Asked if Ferguson could be the difference between qualification and another glorious failure, Miller added: "We want our best players playing for the national team and there is no doubt Barry Ferguson is one of them.

"He is not just a squad player, he's a big, big player for the team. We will be absolutely delighted if he chooses to come back and play with us again."

Levein has also confirmed that McGregor and Kris Boyd – who refused to be considered for selection under previous manager Burley – will both be named in his squad for the Hampden friendly against the Czech Republic on Wednesday, 3 March.

Miller said: "We need our best players playing and the three lads are definitely among the best players in Scotland, so if we can get them back in the squad it's only going to enhance our chances of qualification."

He is particularly relishing the prospect of replicating his prolific Rangers partnership with Boyd at international level.

"I would love it," he said.

"He's had an injury over the last month or so and so have I, so that has kind of stopped us a bit.

"But before that we were playing well and the goals were flowing.

"He is a top player at what he does and I'm just happy to have him back."

Meanwhile, Miller admits second spot is the most realistic target for the Scots after being drawn against defending champions Spain – who sit at No1 in the Fifa world rankings –, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Liechtenstein in their Euro 2012 qualifying group.

But the Rangers forward believes topping the group and securing automatic qualification is not impossible and insists Scotland's home and away triumphs over France during the narrow failure to qualify for Euro2008 prove that no result is an impossible one.

"I don't think we write it off," he said.

"You have to be realistic in the fact that you would probably say beforehand that second place was going to be your best opportunity to qualify.

"But you have seen in the past, when you go and beat teams like France home and away, it's definitely do-able.

"You've got to ride your luck on the night of the games and do the right things as well.

"You never know, on any given night, you can get the breaks and get the results."