Kris Commons: Gordon Strachan is ‘players’ choice’

For someone who was once described as the ninth choice player in Scotland’s midfield, Kris Commons still seems very keen and eager to play for his country.

For someone who was once described as the ninth choice player in Scotland’s midfield, Kris Commons still seems very keen and eager to play for his country.

Last August, former Scotland manager Craig Levein famously said that Commons would not walk straight back into the national side and that there were eight players ahead of him in the pecking order.

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Playing better than ever, Commons duly did more or less walk straight back into the team and performed creditably, too. The Celtic midfielder is surely still in the frame for Scotland under new 
manager Gordon Strachan, while Levein is currently jobless.

It all “blew up in the press” said Commons yesterday, revealing that Levein and he got on perfectly well after his recall to the national squad.

“I think he dislikes some of my attributes or actions,” said Commons. “Whatever he disliked, he certainly didn’t come to me and complain about it, but went to the press. That kind of escalated into him saying these comments and making a bit of an issue out of it but, as soon as I joined up with Craig, it was brilliant. We got on really well, he played me.”

Now Commons wants to retain his squad place but recognises that former Celtic manager Strachan will do things his own way. “There’s a lot of people in and around clubs and players around here who are delighted he’s got the job,” said 
Commons. “He seems to be the players’ choice.

“Hopefully, if I get the chance to play under him it should be an enjoyable experience because I have heard good reports. It’s always strange when a new international manager comes in because he will have certain players that he will want in there and he will make people aware they are part of the squad and the future.

“I don’t know which direction Gordon will take. I don’t know whether he wants to call up the likes of myself who are getting that little bit older or is looking at people like James Forrest and Barry Bannan, who are coming through and playing well.”

Strachan is on record in the past as saying that advancing age is not an issue with him as long as a player can do a job. So Commons need have no fear on that score. He does, however, fear that his team-mate and friend Gary Hooper might fall into a well-worn trap in the England set-up.

Roy Hodgson has had advisers up here, people watching him,” said Commons, “but it always seems to me that whatever English striker is doing half-decent in the Premier League is worthy of an England call-up.

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“There’s been so many English strikers who seem to get one cap and then you never see them again. I hope for Gary’s sake, if he is tied down to a long-term deal here, that he gets that European football that puts him straight into the national side and he kicks on from there.”

According to Commons, Hooper should not leave Celtic for one very good reason: “I will lose my golfing partner!”

He added on a more serious note: “Gary is a great lad and it’s a credit to him that he’s been playing well and scoring so many goals when there is so much speculation going on about his future.

“I’ve been in the position before when you’re going through contract negotiations and you’re in and out the manager’s office and your agent is on the phone every day.

“It’s a weird time for Gary but how he’s been performing for Celtic with all that going on is great credit to him.

“He’s a top centre forward and we’re looking to tie him down to a long-term deal. As you read and hear everything, there’s a lot of interest in his services.

“In the long run, I think Gary wants to stay but every player has his price tag, I guess. There are meetings and phone calls behind the scenes and news on a day-to-day basis and these are things he must put to the back of his mind and concentrate on carrying on playing.”

Celtic’s League Cup semi-final against St Mirren at Hampden today sees Commons return to the scene and the tie in which he made his debut for Celtic against Aberdeen two years ago almost to the day.

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“I got off to a good start, scored an early goal and contributed in the set pieces that got Charlie Mulgrew and Thomas Rogne their goals. It was a nice introduction and a good start to my Celtic career.

“We lost the League Cup final last year and we want this one back. This is the first chance for us to lift a trophy so we want to win it, the league, the other cup and see how far the Champions League takes us.”