Andy still wants to play and that’s the tooth folks

IT turns out getting players to turn up for Scotland really is like pulling teeth.

Alex McLeish has been given more excuses than the teacher collecting homework from the Bash Street Kids but a sore molar would have been the final kick in the teeth for the gaffer.

Andy Robertson missing a cap to get a crown would have been a bridge too far for Eck but at least his skipper has tried to grin and bear it.

Unlike a lot of folk these days, Robbo wants to play for his country. Even when it means he has to bite the bullet with his club.

Don’t be fooled. If Liverpool thought one of their stars of the season was suffering from a paper cut, they would be insisting he stayed put and wrapped in cotton wool for two weeks.

A bit of toothache was their ideal chance to pull him out of Scotland duty. The captain’s attempts to make it might end up in vain but at least he had a go which allowed him to save a bit of face.

Imagine if he hadn’t. He’d be the skipper who missed a crucial game to go to the dentist. The wouldn’t-happen-inmy-day grandad patter merchants would have a field day having been used to being led by the likes of Billy Bremner, Billy McNeill, Graeme Souness, Roy Aitken and Colin Hendry.

This toothy tale is in danger of making everyone involved look daft. All national bosses have to deal with withdrawals as the mega-powerful clubs are the ones calling the shots these days.

The scheduling isn’t great, with league campaigns reaching the business end, but then it never is. McLeish isn’t even suffering from withdrawal symptoms – it’s a full-blown exodus.

He will have a decent looking team sitting on the sofa on Thursday night for a variety of colourful reasons.

Allan McGregor has chucked it. We’ve got guys producing the goods in the EPL like Robert Snodgrass, James McArthur and Matt Ritchie who have either rapped it or asked not to be considered, which is a just a nicer way of saying eff off.

Ryan Fraser has an assist record like Eden Hazard down south yet he doesn’t like the sound of a 3000-mile hike to play on a plastic pitch.

Steven Fletcher gets the herograms last time, pulls out this time, while banging them in for Sheffield Wednesday. Some can’t be bothered, others are following club orders and there are a fair few concentrating on winning their next deals.

We all know there won’t be any stampede to the exits if we actually get to a major finals.

It’s a shame squad places can’t be decided by loyalty points like Tartan Army tickets.

But perhaps we all need to face facts. Scotland duty doesn’t interest a lot of players these days.

The tooth hurts but thankfully not for Robertson.

It’s a shame squad places can’t be decided by loyalty points like Tartan Army tickets

OUR TOP WRITERS GIVE THEIR FEARLESS VERDICTS EVERY DAY IN RECORD SPORT