Managers worry about their players when on international duty but there can be benefits to accrue from good performances.

Players getting picked to play for their country should get a boost to their confidence that their managers will hope they bring back to their club form. Dundee United's Craig Levein is one such manager who hopes Craig Conway's unexpected Scotland debut will kick-start his season. The winger was on from the start of Scotland's 2-0 defeat by Japan on Saturday despite making just two league starts this season. Conway was included in George Burley's squad which suffered nine withdrawals from the original squad and then only after Tannadice team-mate Scott Robertson was forced to turn down the national manager's invitation because of a groin problem. But Levein felt Conway acquitted himself well in Yokohama and now wants him to recapture the form he showed in spells last season.

Levein said: "First and foremost, I'm delighted for Craig that he got the opportunity to play and I thought he did okay given the circumstances. It can be hard enough going into a settled team but, when you are put into a hastily put together squad, it can be really difficult. But hopefully the experience will have done Craig the world of good. He hasn't had a great run this season and I firmly believe there is more to come from him."
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