Fletcher does ‘want to play for Scotland’ - McCarthy

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has urged Scotland manager Craig Levein and Steven Fletcher to resolve their differences.

Wolves striker Fletcher controversially texted the Scottish Football Association in February to say he no longer wished to be selected for international duty.

The highly-publicised withdrawal developed into a stand-off between Fletcher and Levein, and while there have been hints of a possible reconciliation the former Hibernian striker was not in the Scotland squad for last night’s friendly in Cyprus.

McCarthy, who played for and managed the Republic of Ireland, was in Glasgow yesterday for a fund-raising lunch for the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice.

He admitted to be on the outside looking in on the situation but simply wants Fletcher to resume his Scotland career.

“I am not and never have been fully aware of the issue between Fletch and Craig,” said the former Celtic and Manchester City defender.

“If there is an issue between them it is for them to sort out. Not me. I don’t delve into it because I have my own problems looking after my own patch, that’s difficult enough.

“But I can advise at my side and Steven wants to play for Scotland.

“I have said to him that I’ve been an international player and an international manager and I understand all the things that go along with that.

“And playing for your country is the best thing you can do.

“And who knows? You might just end up in the finals of the European Championships or World Cups – we did.

“He doesn’t want to miss that. He wants to play so it is up to everyone to sort that out. Not me.”

“Why the hell am I encouraging him to play?” McCarthy added with a smile. “It just means I have another player away for two weeks.

“It’s doing me a disservice. But I am pragmatic about that. They do go away but I want what is the best for the players and to play at international level is wonderful because you learn playing at that level.

“I was a better player having played for the Republic.”

McCarthy revealed that sacked Hibs manager Colin Calderwood wanted to sign Leigh Griffiths, on loan from Wolves, on a permanent basis before the former Scotland defender was shunted out of the Easter Road club last Sunday.

“I know Colin wanted to sign him because I spoke to him,” he said. “But because football is so unpredictable Colin is not there anymore so that’s changed.

“But there has been a bit of interest because Leigh has been playing well.

“We signed him, we took a chance. From where he came from [Dundee] to Premier League football is a huge gulf so we let him go back to Hibs and play some football and he is doing well. So we will see what happens.”