Levein: Players should return fresh
Scotland boss Craig Levein is looking for some gratitude from his players after giving them the summer to recuperate from club endeavours.
Levein on Monday named his 23-man squad for next Wednesday's friendly against Sweden in Stockholm. It is only his second game in charge since taking over from George Burley in December and it is the last chance to get his players together ahead of the 2012 European Championship qualifiers against Lithuania and Liechtenstein in September.
But in mitigation, Levein said: "The easiest thing for me would have been to organise a game in the summer because I wanted to get involved with the players. But I didn't think it was the right thing. It was a long, hard season. I'm hoping that generosity will be repaid."
Speaking at Hampden, the former Hearts and Dundee United boss had to address the fact that, with Carling Cup games taking place next week, some managers - such as Dave Jones of Cardiff and Gordon Strachan of Middlesbrough, who will be without Kevin Thomson, Barry Robson, Kris Boyd and Stephen McManus - may not be too happy at losing players for a friendly.
He added: "I wanted to let the players have a good rest and not put too much of a load on them. But they have been away on holiday, they have recuperated and they are fresh."
Levein continued: "I am asking for the players to be available for one game prior to the start of the Euros. We only have a five-team group which means four games in September and October.
"I don't think the demands that the SFA are putting on the clubs is enormous and I need as much cooperation as I can get.
"Every international manager is hopeful that when you get to kick-off time that you have your best players available.
"I have had requests for players to be allowed to call off because there are games on the Tuesday night. But the international date has been in the calendar for a long time. The Championship chose to schedule Carling Cup games for the Tuesday night.
"They can't not come because of club commitments."
