LEE Wallace, the Rangers captain, will hold talks with Mark Warburton, the Ibrox manager, about whether to make himself available for Scotland’s end-of-season friendlies following the William Hill Scottish Cup final today.
However, Wallace, who revealed he has been playing with a knee problem this season, admitted that getting himself in peak condition for the start 2016/17 campaign was his priority this summer.
If Rangers defeat their Ladbrokes Championship rivals Hibs at Hampden this afternoon they will be handed a place the Europa League next season and will have to play in the first leg of the second qualifying round on July 14.
Gordon Strachan’s side take on Italy in Malta on May 29 and then play France in Metz on June 4 as they finalise their preparations for the start of their Russia 2018 qualifying campaign next season.
Being involved in that double header against the Euro 2016 finalists would only give Wallace, who has played in all 49 Rangers games this season, a fortnight off before pre-season training starts on June 18.
Warburton reacted angrily to the news that his skipper and Barrie McKay had been included in Strachan’s squad - when Aberdeen, Celtic and Hearts players had been left out to give them time off to prepare for European matches next season.
“The break we had in these weeks was great for myself just nursing a few things along,” said Wallace. “Not to sound overly dramatic, but the knee issue I have had for a wee while, it was good to give that a wee break and a wee breather.
“Discussions are going to have to take place with myself in the next couple of days. I think these discussions will certainly happen whatever the outcome of Saturday’s game. I think that again that’s something we’ll speak to the manager about.
“I have had a programme in place to get myself along in these last few weeks, these last few months, whether it will be coming off the lower leg stuff in the gym, tapering off in the actual training sessions and just getting myself through games.
"So I think what’s most important to me is that I’m the best I can be come whenever Rangers report back. Whether that is taking the 21 day window the manager has referred to, having the full rest, the full shut down, then so be it. Or if it’s going away and there is an extended break it will be discussed with the manager.”
Wallace won his last cap in a friendly international against the United States in 2013 when Rangers were in the third tier of Scottish football, admitted he was delighted that both he and McKay had been called up.
“Naturally, I am happy to be back involved in the squad,” he said. “I didn’t see it coming, I don’t think many could have.
“But I am happy to be back in it and even more happy that Barrie has earned his first call which I think is fully merited. I think he has been outstanding.
“It’s another tale for him in the last four years. He started the journey up at Peterhead and now at the back of it as we are nearly back in the top flight he can end the season by becoming a full international. That is great for him. It has been a great story. It is fully merited on his front. Well done to Barrie.”
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