O'Conner dropped by Scotland

Reluctant Hero · O'Conner dropped by Scotland

Absent O'Connor dropped by Scots

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.
The 23-year-old Lokomotiv Moscow forward failed 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.

Assistant boss Tommy Burns said: "There is no cause for hysteria. Like everyone else, footballers have problems too."

O'Connor came on as a substitute in Scotland's shock 1-0 win over France on Saturday.

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

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.

"It is something the manager will deal with personally, but I am sure it will all be sorted out," he said.

O'Connor had revealed at the weekend that he wants to quit his Russian club because he is homesick.

He joined Lokomotiv in a £1.6m deal in March.

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.

"Scotland manager Walter Smith then told him if he wasn't coming last night then not to bother coming."

Agent Gary Mackay has refused to comment.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6032917.stm

SLG

What an idiot. O'Connor has always struck me as a very sensible and down to earth player - I'll assume that he has a very good reason for missing this. If there's not, then its a bit of a disgrace. Lets hope it's just a one off though, GOC has shown what an important member of the squad he his.

Cymro

Rumours on the net are that it's more to do with his enjoyment of a certain recreational drug after the game on Saturday so was in no shape to go out to the Ukranie. If it was then he's a bit of a tit. Would make sense given that the BBC have given it a lot of British Wide coverage today.

SLG

I'd be surprised if it was anything like that Never know though. I think it looks like family problems due to an unsettled family not adjusting to Moscow life. Sure the media will be hoping for more of a scandal though.

Reluctant Hero

Looks like O'Conner's version of events doesn't quite tie up with Walter Smith's version of events.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6046782.stm

I heard the same rumour as you Cymro, and it was suggested that it wasn't the first time it had happened.