CHRISTOPHE BERRA is sure Steven Fletcher will eventually make his peace and return to the Scotland fold.
But he has given up trying to convince him to do it in time for the upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers against Czech Republic and Lithuania, writes Stewart Fisher.
The former Hearts centre-half – in Glasgow with Fletcher for tonight’s friendly with Celtic at Parkhead – is ideally placed to offer his opinion on the man whose goals kept Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Barclays Premier League, but who withdrew his services by text message after being omitted from Scotland’s Euro 2012 qualifier against the Czech Republic.
Despite being given his first-team debut by Craig Levein, Berra has faced his own battle to become a Scotland regular, and feels the frustrations of being kept on the sidelines are quite simply a fact of life in the international arena. Berra feels an on-form Fletcher would be a huge asset to Scotland, but knows there are no guarantees in international football, not least as he is highly likely to fall behind another centre-forward in the form of David Goodwillie.
“At the end of the season Steven produced the goals and he was really on form,” Berra said. “He couldn’t stop scoring. I’m a team-mate of his and I just have to respect his decision. If he wants to stand by it then it is up to him. It has happened now and he has to deal with it. He is still young and he will probably change his mind eventually, but that’s down to Steven. I’ve not really been pestering him about it.
“I get on with both parties, but everyone is different. You just have to let the dust settle. You can’t forget we have other good strikers as well like Goodwillie so I don’t think we will be short in that department. Don’t get me wrong: sometimes, if you are not playing, it can be frustrating but that is part and parcel of football.”
Berra looked more settled in the international set-up than ever when he capped his Carling Nations Cup involvement with a goal but he faces a fresh challenge just to get into the Wolves team this season.
The Midlands side beat Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool during the last campaign but that didn’t stop Mick McCarthy lavishing £7m on Birmingham City’s Roger Johnson in pre-season.
“I had the second highest number of appearances Wolves last season and as long as I’m playing well I have a good chance of playing for Scotland,” he said.
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