KRIS Commons delivered a massive blow to national manager Gordon Strachan last night by telling him he no longer wants to be picked for Scotland.
Commons delivered the news in a phone call yesterday, only hours after Strachan told the media the Celtic attacking midfielder had been left out of the squad for next month's World Cup tie in Croatia so that he could be rested. In fact the 29-year-old had already made up his mind that he would not play for his country again.
In a phone call to Strachan yesterday, Commons said he wanted to spend more time with his family rather than be away from home on international duty. Last week Commons' partner, Lisa Hague, launched the Lola Commons Fund to honour the memory of their stillborn daughter and help other bereaved families by creating special care rooms at every maternity unit in Scotland. The couple have three other young children.
"I have thought about this decision for some time," Commons told the official Celtic website last night. "At this stage of my career I just want to give Celtic my 100% commitment and ensure I can prolong my club career as long as possible. I also want to give my young family more attention, something I have not been able to do for some time.
"Neil Lennon had spoken to Gordon in person a while back and I was really pleased to speak to Gordon today. I am on very good terms with him and I wish him and the Scotland team all the very best for the future. I am sure Gordon will do a great job."
Strachan said: "I spoke to Kris tonight and understand his family considerations. I wish him the best of luck for the future."
Although he was born in Mansfield, Commons is eligible for Scotland because his grandmother was born in Dundee. He made his debut when George Burley played him in a goalless friendly against Northern Ireland in 2008 but fell out of favour with Craig Levein and, after withdrawing from the squad for the Carling Nations Cup tournament in 2011, he was out of the team for almost 20 months.
He returned for what proved to be Levein's final two games last October. Commons has scored twice in 12 caps. His premature retirement is a bitter blow for Scotland given the quality, invention and goals he could have brought to the remaining World Cup ties and the Euro 2016 qualification campaign which begins next year.
Earlier, before news of the Commons decision broke, Strachan had called up 32-year-old Gordon Greer, the uncapped former Kilmarnock defender – now with Brighton & Hove Albion – but admitted the lack of options in central defence remained a major worry for the national team.
Celtic striker Tony Watt was also called up to the full squad for the first time, as were the midfield pair Stuart Armstrong of Dundee United and Ryan Jack of Aberdeen.
Leigh Griffiths could make his competitive Scotland debut after being capped in the friendly against Luxembourg in November. Scotland are bottom of Group A and already out of the World Cup after six qualifiers.
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