I Make The Decisions And Will Live With Them

Scotland manager Craig Levein is keen to stamp his brand on the Scotland squad and everybody will just have to get used to his ways and selection. He has the responsibility for picking what he considers to be the4 right players for the job. There are always disagreements over the squad selection but Levein was keen to remind everybody that he has the responsibility to pick the team - whether fans or media approve of his choices or not. Levein knows the return of Kris Boyd is likely to provoke a mixed reaction from fans, with the striker on the bench for the friendly against Czech Republic. Boyd turned his back on the national side while George Burley was the manager after being left on the bench for a goalless draw against Norway back in October 2008. However, Levein has wiped the slate clean regarding the decisions of the previous regime and opened the door for the Rangers striker to make a dramatic return, along with club-mate Lee McCulloch, albeit the latter misses the game through injury.

Levein said: "I've tried to make it plain to everybody that I see it as a new chapter. I believe there will be people who resent the fact that I have picked some players who didn't want to play under George. But that's my decision. The players then have a decision to make themselves. If they decide they want to play for Scotland, which they all have done, then I feel they have thought through that decision and are prepared for whatever comes their way. I would ask everybody who is watching the game to have one thing in mind - these guys are playing for their country. Kris has had a really good season. He had a period where he was out injured with the double hernia and he is gradually finding his way back to full fitness. Certainly, before he got injured, he was in really good form. He is part of the squad, he wants to be here and that's really important."

Levein's views were backed by his captain Darren Fletcher, who wants the fans to get right behind the whole team  - including Boyd. He said: "I know Boydy has learned from what happened and maybe he should have dealt with that in a different way. That could be a lesson for another young player who comes into the squad. He definitely deserves a second chance because he is a top player and we want him in the Scotland squad. Any booing or anything like that is only going to be detrimental to the team. If they are booing one of us, they are booing us all, because we are all a team and we are all on that pitch together. It's not going to help the team in any way. I definitely advise everyone to get behind Boydy and get behind Scotland because we all want the same thing. We all want to move forward as a nation and we should all be pulling in one direction."

Levein does not want to be embarrassed by off the field activities by his squad and has introduced a ban on alcohol on the squad while they are on international duty. While some may make much of this, Levein sees this as a no-brainer. The former Dundee United, Leicester and Hearts manager said: "Every club I've been at has been the same. I don't see it has a big deal. The players arrived here on Sunday and we've got a game on Wednesday. For me, it's not a story. We are here to play football. As far as I'm aware, in preparation for a football match alcohol isn't a great thing to be consumed. I just don't see any big deal about it."

With the sides being drawn together in the same EURO2012 Group, Levein is not so keen to meet the Czechs tonight. However, he felt it would be wrong to do away with the opportunity to see how his ideas have been picked up by the squad. He said: "The game was organised and I thought it was too late to do something about it. I believe the squad they will bring for the first competitive match we play against them will differ a fair bit from this squad. Also, we've got a long time. If it had been the friendly date in August, a couple of months before the competitive game, I probably would have wanted to try to cancel and get another match. I feel there is enough of a gap between the two matches for it not to be a problem."