Family could halt Wilson's Scotland return

Mark Wilson put his Scotland career on hold due to fatigue and may now have to do it again for his family.

The Celtic defender made his full international debut in February as a substitute in the 3-0 Carling Nations Cup win over Northern Ireland in Dublin.

However, after struggling through to the end of the season and a Scottish Cup final win over Motherwell nursing a knee injury, he requested not to be included in Craig Levein’s squad for the two games against Wales and Republic of Ireland which concluded the inaugural tournament.

The former Dundee United player is hoping he will be reinstated for the friendly against Denmark at Hampden on August 10 but revealed it is the same day his wife Kelly is due to give birth to their second child.

Wilson, speaking at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow where he as helping launch ESPN’s coverage of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League this season, said: “I would love to be involved (against Denmark).

“But my wife is booked in to have our baby on the day of the game so I don’t know how that is going to work out.

“If I am in the squad, great, and then I will obviously have to speak to the manager if that comes around.

“If I’m not I will be at the hospital that day.

“The rest definitely helped me,” added Wilson.

“I got to the stage where I wasn’t training for Celtic and just playing games.

“After games it was hurting at times and the staff at the club were very understanding.

“To go away with Scotland after the cup final, I think it was another 10 days and that meant training and playing.

“I thought it might be a bit too much and I would benefit more from the rest and I feel better for it.

“My knee was feeling fine from the first day back at pre-season training.

“So looking back, it was a good decision but I definitely hope it doesn’t jeopardise my chances of being involved in future Scotland squads.

“I never want that to be frowned upon and to be fair, the manager was very understanding when I spoke to him.”

While looking to wrest the SPL title back from Rangers in the forthcoming campaign which starts for the Hoops with a trip to Hibernian on Sunday, Wilson is also hoping Celtic also do themselves justice in Europe.

With Neil Lennon still trying to assemble his squad at the start of last season, the Parkhead club were knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers by Portuguese club Braga – who subsequently reached the final of the Europa League - before losing in their Europa League qualifier to Dutch side Utrecht.

However, Wilson believes that the Hoops are better equipped for this season’s foray in to the Europa League.

“The European games came too soon for a squad thrown together last year,” he said.

“Some of the times we looked like a group of strangers.

“It was a harsh test going into European football, especially against Braga.

“People thought we should have swept them aside but look where they got to.

“A year under our belt and a few additions to the squad who have settled very well, it looks like we are much better off this season.”

Hopefully we get a good draw, first and foremost,“ continued Wilson.

“We have been very unlucky over the years with draws in European competition.

“You are looking to stay in after Christmas and you just don’t know after that with the Europa League.

“It is much different from the Champions League where you are over the moon to get to the last 16.

“But if you progress through the group stages you have a real chance.

“You have seen in years gone by the teams that have made it to the semi-finals and finals, teams you wouldn’t expect to be there.

“We have a lot of experience in our squad, boys who have played with their country and in European football.

“They know what to expect and how to play the European game.

“It will be a tall order but we are due the fans something and it would be nice to repay them and get the crowds back to Parkhead on European nights.”