Levein won't shut out Gers

Lee Wallace: Given hope for future squads despite being omitted for Australia game

Scotland manager Craig Levein has insisted he will still consider Rangers players for international selection despite the fact they will be playing Third Division football this season.

Levein has not included anyone from the Ibrox club in his squad for the upcoming friendly against Australia and admits it will be harder for them to stake a claim for future spots, but he is not closing the door completely.

Full-back Lee Wallace was the only current Rangers player who was expected to have a chance of making the cut this time around but his place seems to have gone to Southampton defender Daniel Fox.

Levein said of his exclusion: "Lee Wallace is a good example and I wouldn't close the door on him at all.

"The best scenario is for players to be playing at the top level to play international football. It makes it so much easier to step from one to the other."

Despite saying the 25-year-old could well be involved in future fixtures, Levein made no secret that it will be harder to get there and that he would not try to tell Wallace to leave Rangers.

"It is very difficult for anyone playing in the Third Division in Scotland to be up to the speed of an international match. No way am I closing the door at all. I just think it is more difficult for Lee to get in now than it was previously.

"It is not my job to advise players on their career paths. It is a decision that he is made and he obviously has his reasons for that."

Fox praise

Saints' full-back Fox has one previous cap to his name - he featured in a 3-0 defeat to Wales in 2009 - but Levein has been impressed with the former Celtic player and reckons his rise to the Premier League at St Mary's helped him earn a call-up.

"His record is excellent with the amount of games he has played over the last couple of seasons and progressing through the leagues," he said.

"The fact he is going to be playing at the very top level week in, week out against top international players makes it easier for me to select him.

"He deserves his opportunity he has had a great couple of seasons and I'm looking forward to working with him."