Weir urges Fletcher to make first move and end his exile

WOLVES striker Steven Fletcher has been urged to “pick up the phone” to end his dispute with Scotland coach Craig Levein by a fellow Scot who knows precisely how “horrible” it feels to live through self-imposed international exile.

David Weir refused to play for Berti Vogts after he was criticised by the German for the country’s 2-2 draw in the Faroe Islands in 2002. He only returned three years later when asked to by Vogts’ successor Walter Smith.

Weir knows Fletcher’s situation is different. The 23-year-old will require to reach a rapprochement with Levein, the same manager with whom relations broke down after the former Hibs striker criticised the Scotland coach for not picking him in the early 2012 qualifiers. But Weir is hopeful these differences can be smoothed over.

“I’m sure he’s thought long and hard about it,” Weir said. “He’s a clever boy and a good boy as well, so he knows what he’s doing. He’ll have his own reasons but my advice would be, if the obstacles aren’t insurmountable, then make the phone call, and do what you’ve got to do to get back involved.

“We could definitely do with him, he’s a top player and shown this season and last season, he’s capable of scoring goals at a great level. Everybody agrees we can do with him. I was fortunate I got back in. If I had been in the position of thinking I had lost ten years of my Scotland career it would have been a bitter pill to swallow. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet. Pride can do you more harm than good. But I don’t know the circumstances, I really don’t. I’m glad I got my opportunity. It came because the manager changed.

“If the manager hadn’t changed I wouldn’t have got that opportunity, so I was lucky. I hope the manager isn’t going to change now so I don’t think that will be the stimulus. So somebody is going to have to pick up the phone.”