Levein cools Marshall row

Scotland coach Craig Levein insists he has no problem with David Marshall withdrawing from the squad to face Sweden.

Reports had suggested Levein had threatened to end Marshall's international career if the shot-stopper plays for Cardiff City in their Carling Cup tie against Burton on Wednesday night.

Marshall was forced to withdraw from the Scotland squad after picking up an elbow injury in Sunday's game with Sheffield United and Levein is happy that he is not fit to play against Sweden in Stockholm on Wednesday.

"To be fair to him he injured his elbow in the game on Sunday," Levein told Sky Sports News.

Unfit

"He flew up to Glasgow to let the medical team from the SFA have a look at him. All credit to him, he came into the hotel, the doctors had a look at him, he declared himself unfit for Wednesday, our medical team declared him unfit for Wednesday so he took a flight at 7 o'clock back down the road.

"As far as I am aware he might be fit for Saturday, I don't know, it depends how quickly he recovers.

"I was happy with David. He showed a willingness to let the guys have a look at him so from that point of view I was fairly happy.

"As far as I am concerned if he is not fit to play on Wednesday [for Scotland] then I wouldn't expect him to play for Cardiff."