Smith still considering options

Scotland manager Walter Smith will leave it late before deciding on his team to face Switzerland in tomorrow night’s friendly at Hampden Park.

Manchester United’s Darren Fletcher and Wigan duo Gary Teale and Lee McCulloch were involved in the Carling Cup final on Sunday and joined the rest of the squad this morning.

Nigel Quashie, who was in league action for West Brom against Middlesbrough, also arrived at Scotland’s Loch Lomond base today.

Smith is keen to see all four players in action in training before deciding on his starting XI.

He said: “I won’t pick the team until I see how the players who turned up late are in training.”

Wigan midfielder Teale looks set to win his first Scotland cap, although Smith admits the timing is not ideal after taking part in such an important cup game.

He added: “I would like to give him a run-out but obviously it’s a slightly awkward time for him, although, like everything else, we can’t pick and choose our timing.

“He played in the League Cup final in England and it was a huge game for him. But he is one of the people who I will see in training before naming the team.”

Garry O’Connor became the fourth withdrawal from the squad after Hearts pair Steven Pressley and Paul Hartley pulled out, along with Aberdeen’s Jamie Smith.

Hibernian striker O’Connor, 22, is set to hold talks with Lokomotiv Moscow about a lucrative move to the Russian club, which could earn him £16,000 (€23,500) per week.

Smith said: “We were asked by Hibs if he could go for a medical and we can’t stand in his way.

“It means a lot to Hibs in terms of transfer fees and it gives a young man the chance to achieve a contract that he couldn’t get at another Scottish club.”