GEORGE BURLEY insists he had no problems handing a call-up to Garry O'Connor - despite his past misdemeanours with the national team.

The Birmingham striker's international future was thrown into jeopardy almost two years ago when he failed to report for a crucial Euro 2008 qualifier in the Ukraine during Walter Smith's tenure.

O'Connor was eventually welcomed back into the national-team fold by current club boss Alex McLeish, but only after questions had been asked about his commitment to his country.

As far as Burley is concerned, however, the player deserves a clean slate and he was included in the 25-man squad named at Hampden yesterday for the World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Iceland.

"I've never had any problems with Garry," he said. "He was at the first get-together when I arrived and I said to Garry that he needs to play football.

"He was out with an abscess in his mouth and he didn't really get going at the end of last season.

"I spoke to Alex about him and he's had a terrific pre-season, he's scored five or six goals in pre-season games and started the season scoring.

"Steven Pressley went to watch him on Saturday and he's a very good striker. He gives us a physical presence and he's in form.

"As far as what's happened in the past, I've never had any problems with him and I don't anticipate I will."

Burley also explained why he kept new-boys Darren Barr and Kris Commons in the squad after their recent call-ups' for the friendly with Northern Ireland.

"I felt they both did very well in that game and can offer us something, that's why they are back in," he said.