James Forrest to put Celtic before Team GB

One of 80 players who features on a revised list of manager Stuart Pearce that last week was whittled down from 191 original possibles, the 20-year-old Scotland internationalist has long stated his desire to feature in the tournament – a view he has expressed despite the Scottish Football Association’s appeals that no players from the country do so for fears over it might be a threat to Scotland independence at international level. But the fact the tournament will be held between 25 July and 11 August, and so clash with Celtic’s Champions League third round qualifiers on 31 July and the following week, looks set to put paid to his hopes of participating.

“Club comes first, obviously, and if the club has got qualifiers then I will be staying at the club,” the 20-year-old stated. “It would be a great honour to play in the Olympics. I think a lot of folk have received letters. I haven’t spoken to Stuart Pearce. But I think if Celtic have qualifiers, I’ll be staying with the club.”

International exile Steven Fletcher could be one Scottish player to feature, with Welshmen Gareth Bale and Craig Bellamy and Northern Ireland’s Chris Brunt lined up to form part of a 35-man squad that is expected to be captained by David Beckham, understood to be one of the three over-age players in the pool otherwise comprised of players aged 23 or under.

Beckham helped campaign for the Olympics to come to his native east London and featuring in them would be a swansong for the former England skipper.

The draw for the tournament will take place this Tuesday. Hampden is one of six venues that will host games but while tickets sales are said to have been going well for the other five grounds, they have been slow for the Glasgow arena, with organisers claiming they expect these to pick up once it is known which countries will be playing there.