When Gordon Strachan announced his two Scotland squads last week that will face two international friendlies later this month many eyebrows were raised by the fact that no Rangers players were included in either squad.

The biggest omission seems to be left-back Lee Wallace.

Anyone who was watched the Gers captain this season will tell you that Wallace has been in fine form. The forward thinking full-back has helped his club’s cause with five goals so far in the campaign. His keen eye for a tackle and his marauding runs into opposition territory have certainly caught the eye this term.

Speaking to the Rangers website Gers assistant manager and former Scotland international defender David Weir said of Wallace’s exclusion ‘I find it hard to believe.’ 

Weir went on to praise Lee’s game but admitted that those picked must be in top form to have edged Wallace out of the international picture.

Many a Gers fan will remember another left-back in David Robertson who was great for the Ibrox club but was constantly overlooked for the national team.

But Scots boss Strachan has came out to dismiss the notion that Lee Wallace has no international future:

“I like what I see. We know he (Wallace) can do a job, but Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson have been doing very well and I want to see them more.”

There could have been strong cases made to see the likes of Jason Holt, Barrie McKay, Andy Halliday, Michael O’Halloran and Danny Wilson in the squads to face either Denmark or the Czech Republic.

All have had successful seasons in the Scottish Championship and haven’t seen call ups in Strachan’s previous squads.

Holt and McKay in particular have looked extremely capable, even in the games against Scottish Premiership sides in the Scottish Cup. At least McKay has been called up for the under-21s.

People have stated that the fact that they play in Scotland’s second tier was the reason that they weren’t selected. But Lewis Macleod and John McGinn have been selected while playing at that level. Lee Wallace has made a few squads while he was playing in Scotland’s lower leagues.

But the Scottish footballing fan loves a good conspiracy theory and the fact that the Scotland manager is an ex-Celtic boss helps flame the fears that he’s holds an anti Rangers bias.

But the truth is that Strachan may have done the Govan side a massive favour by leaving out their top stars.

It should give players like Wallace, Holt and Co an added incentive to prove themselves worthy of an international call-up.

Then there’s the fact that it keeps the Gers players fresh for the Championship title run-in and for the Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic that’s coming up next month.

Surely if you ask the Rangers players, coaching team and fans if they’d sacrifice not playing in these friendlies for the opportunity to finally return to the top flight, they’d happily forgo the recognition.

Basically this perceived negative or snub could be the best thing for this current Rangers team at this moment in time.

 

Posted on March 15th, 2016 by scott
Filed under: Article