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Absent O'Connor dropped by Scots Absent O'Connor in Scots apology
(about 2 hours later)
Scotland striker Garry O'Connor has been left out of Wednesday's Euro 2008 qualifier in Ukraine and could have played his last game for his country. Garry O'Connor has apologised to Scotland manager Walter Smith after missing the trip to face Ukraine in the Euro 2008 qualifier on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old Lokomotiv Moscow forward failed to show up at the team's hotel on Sunday. The 23-year-old Lokomotiv Moscow striker could have played his last game for his country after failing to show up at the team's hotel on Sunday.
He was then told by manager Walter Smith that he would not be joining the squad for the trip to Kiev. But he said: "I apologise to the SFA, Walter Smith and his staff.
Assistant boss Tommy Burns said: "There is no cause for hysteria. Like everyone else, footballers have problems too." "At the earliest opportunity, I hope to meet with Walter Smith, face-to-face, to explain my reasons."
O'Connor came on as a substitute in Scotland's shock 1-0 win over France on Saturday. But his statement, issued on his behalf by agent Gary Mackay, left unexplained the events that led up to his absence from the flight to Kiev on Monday morning.
And the former Hibernian forward was likely to be on the bench again on Wednesday. Garry O'Connor's agent telephoned the Scottish Football Association to say that he would not be arriving at the hotel BBC football pundit Chick Young O'Connor, who moved to Lokomotiv from Hibernian for £1.6m in March, came on as a substitute in Scotland's shock 1-0 win over France on Saturday. Like everyone else in life, footballers have problems too, but I am sure it will all be sorted out Scotland assistant manager Tommy Burns
His absence is a blow to Smith, but Burns denied suggestions that O'Connor is unlikely to be called up to future squads under the present regime. He was likely to again be on the bench against Ukraine.
"It is something the manager will deal with personally, but I am sure it will all be sorted out," he said. But, after the players were given the evening off to celebrate with their families, it is understood that Mackay telephoned the Scottish Football Association to say that O'Connor would not be arriving at the hotel.
O'Connor had revealed at the weekend that he wants to quit his Russian club because he is homesick. Smith then told him that if he could not arrive at the team hotel on Sunday, he would not be travelling the following morning.
He joined Lokomotiv in a £1.6m deal in March. O'Connor had revealed in post-match interviews that he wants to quit his Russian club because he is homesick.
BBC football correspondent Chick Young told BBC Radio Scotland: "I understand Garry O'Connor's agent telephoned the Scottish Football Association to say that he would not be arriving at the hotel. However, his statement stressed: "On my return to Moscow, I will be concentrating on doing my very best for Lokomotiv while hoping my Scotland team-mates continue their great start to this campaign."
"Scotland manager Walter Smith then told him if he wasn't coming last night then not to bother coming." Scotland assistant Tommy Burns was denying, publicly at least, that O'Connor's involvement in future squads was now in doubt.
Agent Gary Mackay has refused to comment. "I don't think the manager is looking at it like that," he said.
"He is open-minded and compassionate.
"It is something the manager will deal with personally.
"There is no cause for hysteria. Like everyone else in life, footballers have problems too, but I am sure it will all be sorted out."