McGregor misses out as Boyd, McCulloch back for Scots

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GLASGOW, Feb 22, 2010 (AFP) - Rangers duo Kris Boyd and Lee McCulloch returned to the Scotland squad for next week's friendly against Euro 2012 rivals the Czech Republic but a nightclub fracas has cost team-mate Allan McGregor his chance of a return from the international wilderness.

McGregor, who had been expected to be named in new manager Craig Levein's first squad, misses out after reportedly being hospitalised following an attack on him outside a Glasgow nightspot in the early hours of Sunday.

Levein said McGregor had been left out because of doubts over his fitness for Sunday's Scottish Premier League clash between Rangers and Celtic.

"I'm looking for certainty," the new Scotland boss said. "It doesn't look like he's going to be fit so it's nice and simple. Once this game is out of the way, he will be considered for the next match."

McCulloch and Boyd suspended their international careers after falling out with Levein's predecessor George Burley while McGregor was banished along with former captain Barry Ferguson following an all-night drinking session between two World Cup qualifiers and a subsequent furore over obscene gestures they made to photographers.

Levein however has decided to offer everyone a fresh start and is hopeful that Ferguson will return in time for the start of the qualifying campaign for Euro 2012.

Scotland begin their campaign with a trip to Lithuania on September 3. Their group also contains defending European champions Spain and next week's opponents and Levein is keen to start his reign with a morale-boosting win.

The former Scotland defender -- he won 16 caps -- is also hoping the clash will help him find a new centre-half after admitting his country are desperately short in that area.

"There are two objectives for me in this match," he said. "Winning the game is important to me and, at the same time, I feel that if you look at the squad we don't have half-a dozen centre backs that I feel are capable of playing every match for Scotland. We need to find a partnership or even an individual. Centre back is a really important position. I am old fashioned in that the spine of the team is really important."

Levein has handed a recall to Andy Webster, while Paul Dixon and Garry Kenneth are also surprise inclusions in his squad.

All played for him during his time at Dundee United but the 45-year-old insists they are in the squad on merit.

He added: "I think there is a temptation that when you see the squad to look at it and see that they are Dundee United players and I am the former Dundee United manager. But that is not how I pick the team. We are thin on the ground for centre-backs and we need to find one or two in the Scottish team in the future. I would dare anyone to question the quality of Garry Kenneth.

"I am a huge admirer of Andy. He played for Scotland previously. He's got experience and will be a valuable addition to the squad.

"The left-back position is a quandary for me. Having worked with Paul he is a younger one, as is Lee Wallace, and we're looking for someone to establish themselves. Paul has a had a quick rise and I feel he has attributes to do well."

Levein is aiming to lead Scotland to the country's first major tournament since the World Cup in 1998 and he rebuffed suggestions the match against the Czechs should have been called off after the countries were drawn together.

"We will both learn a bit about the other," Levein said. "I'm not clever enough to come up with a plan that makes them think we are rubbish and then we go and beat them in the competitive match.

"I am not too concerned with what they take from it. I am just looking forward to working with the players. I want people to leave Hampden on Wednesday feeling the players have worked hard and that there are signs of a recovery."