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Absent O'Connor dropped by Scots | Absent O'Connor dropped by Scots |
(about 1 hour 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. | |
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. | 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. |