I’M SHOCKED CAP DIDN’T FIT DOBBIE
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH boss Gary Naysmith can’t believe Stephen Dobbie has never been capped by Scotland.
But he’s relieved Europe’s top gun will be leading the line for Queens this weekend instead of earning a late call-up for Alex McLeish’s squad.
With Leigh Griffiths and Ryan Fraser pulling out of the double header with Israel and Portugal there was talk of 35-year-old Dobbie winning a Scots slot.
But the veteran – Europe’s top scorer with 24 goals – hasn’t been summoned and will run out for the Doonhamers in their Irn-Bru Cup tie with East Fife.
Boss Naysmith said: “I have been hearing a lot about Stephen and Scotland just now and no wonder as he is in great from.
“It is a surprise he has never been involved. It is probably less surprising now to when he was playing in English football.
“He is always getting teased that Scotland must be doing well for strikers as they are the only country in the world where the top goalscorer can’t get into his national team.
“I played 46 times for Scotland, and Stephen is in my top five of finishers I have played with or managed. If there had been a late call-up everyone here would’ve been happy for him but I would’ve asked Alex to call up a few others so we could get the East Fife tie called off!”
Dobbie yesterday signed a new deal with Queens until summer 2020.
And the hitman said: “It was a very easy decision to make. Everybody knows how I feel about the club. I’m loving my football.”