Craig Levein set for biggest gamble yet over Darren Fletcher

Craig Levein, Peter Houston reported yesterday, is wrestling over the dilemma of who to play at left centre-half against Czech Republic this weekend. The Scotland manager and his assistant were set to discuss the topic over dinner last night. However, there is a perhaps more significant issue to chew over, one which concerns Levein’s lieutenant on the pitch, Darren Fletcher.

Either Christophe Berra or Danny Wilson will be given the nod to partner Gary Caldwell, although if Levein stays true to his often-repeated contention that only players featuring regularly for their club sides are of interest to him, then the former will be the one selected to start. Berra has, after all, played every minute of Wolves’ three league games this season, while Wilson has featured only in Liverpool’s Carling Cup win over Exeter City.

But then the Scotland manager has already performed a u-turn when it comes to this particular maxim, or at least is preparing to. It might well be the case that Fletcher, the captain and beating heart of the team in competitive fixtures under Levein, is regarded as a special case. If he starts on Saturday, in Scotland’s most vital fixture for four years, then he will have been given special treatment to go with the long months of medical care received since succumbing to what is still being described as a mystery virus, one which attacked his stomach and left him struggling to maintain his optimum weight.

Although the question of Berra or Wilson is occupying the manager’s mind at present, perhaps opting to play Fletcher is the riskiest decision Levein will make. Indeed, whether it even qualifies as a dilemma is debatable, since Levein, speaking last week, said it was “guaranteed” that his skipper would play against Czech Republic and Lithuania, two must-win games for Scotland as they seek to seize a play-off place for Euro 2012.

Levein, it seems, has settled on the matter already, helped along the way by a telephone call from Sir Alex Ferguson on Friday morning. Houston yesterday revealed that the Manchester United manager had told Levein to “get him in, he’s fine”.

Strangely, however, Ferguson did not then include the midfielder in his own squad for last weekend’s home fixture against Arsenal.

The fear is that Levein might end up regretting his vow to play Fletcher, particularly since it jars with what he said as recently as the start of last month. Having named his squad to play Denmark the manager then turned to the subject of Fletcher’s exclusion, explaining that it was on the grounds of his lack of first-team football. “If he is not playing games for Manchester United I couldn’t play him for Scotland,” Levein said. “I don’t think it would do him any good to be involved when he hasn’t kicked a ball at club level.”

Fletcher has not played a single minute more since Levein made these comments. Back then, he hadn’t featured in the Old Trafford first-team since the penultimate game of the season, having been an unused substitute in the Champions League final against Barcelona. And that remains the case now, although Fletcher has contributed a pair of powerful performances for United reserves, one of which, against Swansea, was watched by a member of Levein’s coaching staff. He also spoke to the player after the other of these reserve outings, against Arsenal. His performances in training this week have also proved persuasive.

Houston reported yesterday that Fletcher had showed up well at Dumbarton, with the player one of a few who “needed a bit extra” fitness work, along with the likes of Alan Hutton, David Goodwillie and Barry Bannan. “We did the usual warm-up and ball work and passing drills and possession drills before going into games,” said Houston. “Darren did it all. At the end of it we looked at eight players who needed a bit extra, like Goodwillie and Bannan, Fletcher, those who hadn’t played an awful lot.

“So we gave them extra, hard training, and they came through with flying colours. So Darren’s looking exceptionally well.”

Informed about what Levein had told Sunday newspaper journalists last week, that Fletcher would definitely play in both qualifiers, Houston replied: “Well, you are telling me something he hasn’t told me”. The assistant then added: “Craig’s not decided his final XI yet. Whether Darren starts, I am not sure.”

Of course, it is possible that Fletcher might be restricted to a place on the bench, with Levein having primed him for use as a substitute. The manager did not state last week that he would definitely start both matches, only that he would play in them. Houston also made a point of outlining how strong Levein’s options were among the substitutes. “In my opinion we’ll have a bench of players who can go on and change the game,” he said.

Tomorrow’s press briefing at Mar Hall, when tradition dictates that both the manager and skipper speak, should be revealing, since it seems unlikely that Fletcher will handle this chore if not in line to lead the team out the next day. Houston has no fears about Fletcher stepping back into a role he has not performed since a friendly against the Faroe Isles, last November.

“He’s a lad whose general fitness doesn’t go away and he can pass the ball very well,” he said.

While all this is beyond doubt, the hope is that he is able to also hit the ground running in a high-octane fixture, one guaranteed to take the breath away. Intriguingly, his most valued player could yet count as Levein’s biggest gamble to date.