ALLY McCOIST has jumped to the defence of Oli McBurnie after he appeared for Sheffield United just hours after pulling out of the Scotland squad.
The 24-year-old was included as part of his club's squad for a pre-season friendly against Derby County last night.
Scots boss Steve Clarke later defended the striker saying he had agreed with Chris Wilder that McBurnie would be better working on his fitness with the Bramall Lane outfit.
Rangers legend McCoist was also quick to fight McBurnie's corner on talkSPORT this morning.
He said: "The fact of the matter is, he's not going to be daft enough to pull out a Scotland squad then sit on the bench and play for Sheffield United unless there has been chat between the manager and coaches.
"I don't doubt for a minute that he's not 100 per cent fit to play and that's why Chris Wilder will have spoken to Stevie Clarke, I don't have any doubt about it, because that's what happens.
"Clearly, he's not fit enough to play in the game against Israel but he maybe needs some fitness, I would imagine.
"That's where I'm sitting on it right now.
"Chris Wilder has maybe looked and it and said he needs to give him twenty minutes, half an hour - whatever it may be - to get his overall fitness up and see how he is.
"But there's no way. The fact of the matter is you'd need to be crazy.
"If it was the case, the fans would be right and he should never play again, but it's not the case.
"He'll be giving himself an opportunity. He's clearly not 100 per cent fit and not fit enough to join the squad.
"But in his recuperation to get fit again, that's why he's got 20 minutes, half an hour, whatever it is.
"I don't have a problem with it."
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