‘Knock heads together’ to solve Craig Levein’s stand-off with Steven Fletcher

IF the SFA are seeking a go-between to end the stand-off between Scotland manager Craig Levein and the country’s highest level striker Steven Fletcher, they could do worse than ask Gordon McQueen.

“I don’t know the ins and outs of it, but if it’s personal and Levein wants a goalscorer in his side, then heads need to be knocked together,” is former Scotland captain McQueen’s blunt assessment of the situation which sees the country denied the services of Wolves front man Fletcher.

McQueen is an admirer of Fletcher, having watched the former Hibs player’s progress in the English Premier League, but can not understand why his differences with Levein have not been set aside to Scotland’s advantage.

“If it is a personal issue, like Davie Weir had when Berti Vogts was manager, it can be sorted out,” added McQueen. “You can sit down and work out things like that. But if he [Fletcher] has just turned down playing for his country, then that’s it for me. No ifs and buts, you are history. Playing for Scotland was the ultimate for me.

“I think it’s terrible, regardless of how you get on with your manager, to say you don’t want to play again for your country. By and large, I would go along with Craig Levein if he doesn’t want to pick Fletcher.

“I like Craig, I think he is in it for the long haul. With previous Scotland managers, if something decent has cropped up elsewhere, they were off. Scotland wasn’t what they wanted long term.

“I don’t know Craig that well, but it seems from what I hear and read that he is planning for the long haul. That’s what we need, not just a quick fix or doing half-decently in some qualifiers. It’s not just the senior team, it’s the national teams in the lower age groups. He seems to be doing that.”

At Hampden to launch the 2012 induction process for the Scottish Football Hall of Fame, McQueen would be regarded by many as a potential addition to the 78 names placed in the pantheon since its launch back in 2004.

The former Leeds United and Manchester United defender saw several notable omissions as he cast his eye over those inducted in previous years.

“There are so many heroes of mine already on the list, the obvious names like Denis Law, John Greig, Billy McNeill, Jimmy Johnstone,” he said. “But there are others like Davie Wilson who isn’t on the list. I used to watch him when I was a wee boy, he was a terrific player for Rangers and Scotland.

“Then you look at the Nottingham Forest players from my era, guys like John McGovern and Kenny Burns, who won European Cups. Look at Stevie Nicol, who won the European Cup with Liverpool.

“I also think Peter Lorimer should be included. He was a fantastic player for Leeds and he loved playing for his country as well. He scored in the 1974 World Cup for Scotland against Zaire and scored an unbelievable amount of goals in his club career.”

• Nominations for the Scottish Football Hall of Fame can be made by logging on to sfmhalloffame.com or by post to Scottish Football Hall of Fame, Hampden Park, Glasgow G42 9BA. Closing date for nominations is midday on 31 August. The new inductees will be announced at a gala dinner in Glasgow on 11 November.