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Absent O'Connor in Scots apology Smith dismayed at absent O'Connor
(about 3 hours later)
Garry O'Connor has apologised to Scotland manager Walter Smith after missing the trip to face Ukraine in the Euro 2008 qualifier on Wednesday. Scotland manager Walter Smith has questioned Garry O'Connor's commitment to the national set-up after the striker missed the trip to Ukraine.
O'Connor could have played his last Scotland game after failing to show up at the team's hotel on Sunday. O'Connor has failed to explain his absence despite making a public apology through the BBC after failing to show up at the team's hotel on Sunday.
But he said: "I apologise to the Scottish Football Association, Walter Smith and his staff. And Smith said: "He has not managed to contact us with a relevant reason.
"At the earliest opportunity, I hope to meet with Walter Smith, face-to-face, to explain my reasons." "So there is obviously a question mark over whether he wants to be involved at an international level or not."
Interview: Scotland assistant boss Tommy BurnsInterview: Scotland assistant boss Tommy Burns
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. The 23-year-old, who moved to Lokomotiv Moscow from Hibernian for £1.6m in March, came on as a substitute in Scotland's shock 1-0 win over France on Saturday.
The 23-year-old, who moved to Lokomotiv Moscow 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 O'Connor revealed in post-match interviews that he wants to quit his Russian club because he is homesick.
He was likely to again be on the bench against Ukraine. He was likely to again be on the bench in the next Euro 2008 qualifier, against Ukraine on Wednesday.
But, after the players were given the evening off to celebrate with their families, it is understood that Mackay telephoned the SFA to say that O'Connor would not be arriving at the hotel. But, after the players were given the evening off to celebrate with their families, agent Gary Mackay telephoned the Scottish FA to say that O'Connor would not be arriving at the team hotel. I apologise to the SFA, Walter Smith and his staff for my non-appearance Scotland striker Garry O'Connor
Smith then told him that if he could not arrive at the team hotel on Sunday, he would not be travelling the following morning. An angry Smith then told Mackay that if O'Connor could not arrive at the hotel on Sunday, he would not be travelling the following morning.
O'Connor had revealed in post-match interviews that he wants to quit his Russian club because he is homesick. "The only contact we have had is from Gary Mackay, his agent, who was in touch with our administrator to say that he had no idea where the player was," the manager told BBC Sport.
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." "I think we are all in the dark in that aspect of it.
Scotland assistant Tommy Burns admitted that the events had left Smith angry. "Obviously, I am a little disappointed as, at the very least, there could have been some contact."
"Sure, it has got everybody focussing on something other than the game," said Burns. It appears likely that O'Connor will have to present a strong case if he is to add to his six international caps under the present regime.
But he was denying, publicly at least, that O'Connor's involvement in future squads was now in doubt. "If a player has a relevant reason for not turning up then we have to accept that," said Smith.
"I don't think the manager is looking at it like that," he said. However, he played down how significant the loss of O'Connor could be to his European Championship campaign.
"He is very open-minded and very compassionate. "If it was a player of the stature of a Law or Dalglish, it would be a huge loss, but he is a young player just starting his international career," he stressed.
"It is something the manager will deal with personally. O'Connor's statement, issued on his behalf by Mackay, left unexplained the events that led up to his absence from the flight from Glasgow.
"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. "I apologise to the SFA, Walter Smith and his staff for my non-appearance for the flight to Kiev for this week's international," it said.
"And, until we know what the background is, we should not be jumping to too many conclusions." "At the earliest opportunity, I hope to meet with Walter Smith, face-to-face, to explain my reasons.
"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."