SCOTLAND manager Craig Levein refused to get into a war of words with Ross McCormack last night after the Leeds striker had criticised him for leaving him out of the squad for next week's friendly in Slovenia.
McCormack had said: "I don't feel as if I'll be in the squad no matter if I score goals or not" and questioned why Craig Mackail-Smith, Jamie Mackie and David Goodwillie were all picked ahead of him.
McCormack has scored 16 times for Leeds this season, but claimed that Levein's backroom staff would not even take a call to explain his omission. He has not been picked since the Carling Nations Cup ties in Dublin last May.
Levein attempted to defuse the issue by saying he understood why McCormack was frustrated. "Obviously he's very disappointed not to be in the squad, which I can understand. It's great for me that someone who is playing so well and scoring so many goals can't get a place in our squad."
Levein will also speak with Ian Holloway after the Blackpool manager said he wanted winger Matt Phillips to withdraw from the squad.
Phillips, who was born in Aylesbury and has England under-20 caps,is eligible for Scotland because of his grandparents.
But the Slovenia friendly comes only 48 hours before his club play Hull City and Holloway wants him to miss the Scotland game in order to be available for that.
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