Craig Levein has refused to confirm or deny if Kenny Miller will start for Scotland against Czech Republic on Friday following reports the in-form Rangers ace will be dropped for the Euro 2012 qualifier (Czech Rep 4/6, Scotland 22/5, the draw 13/5).
The Scotland boss was asked about the newspaper reports in the build-up to the big game in Prague on Friday but refused to give any hint over his team selection, stressing he has yet to decide fully on his starting line-up.
Miller has begun the season in brilliant form in the SPL, scoring 10 goals already, while he was also on target for Scotland against Liechtenstein last time out.
It would be a major surprise if the forward was not in the starting line-up against the Czechs but Levein, in refusing to confirm he would be playing, appears to be hinting that will be the case.
“I am not going to make any comment at this minute in time. The team hasn’t been named, I can assure you of that,” he said.
When asked specifically if Miller (15/2 to be first or last goalscorer) was in his thoughts for the game, he added: “Of course. We will wait and see what happens.
“You can couch it in as many different ways as you want, I am not in any way going to give you any indication at this moment in time.
“The team will be named as usual on Thursday evening as usual, 24 hours before the match.
“I am not concerned at all about anything other than to tell you that I will name the team on Thursday evening.”
Queens Park Rangers striker Jamie Mackie, Wolves’ Steven Fletcher, Burnley’s Chris Iwelumo, Celtic’s Shaun Maloney and Miller’s Rangers team-mate, Steven Naismith, are the other striking options Levein has for the game, should he decide to leave Miller out.
Scotland have got off to a decent start in their qualifying campaign – winning one and drawing the other from their opening two games – and, if they can avoid defeat against the much-fancied Czechs, will head into the Hampden showdown with world and European champions, Spain, next week in good heart.
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Craig Levein chose to ignore Scotland’s poor display against Liechtenstein and insisted their late, late win over the minnows was all that mattered as they breathed life into their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign (16/1 to win Group I).