Craig Levein has admitted he wants to see as many of his squad playing in the Premier League as possible.
Scotland boss wanting to see his players at very top
Scotland boss Craig Levein has admitted he would like to see as many players in his squad playing in the English Premier League as possible.
In a time where Scotland have not qualified for a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup, there has been a lack of Scottish players at the highest level.
With the likes of Barry Ferguson, Alan Hutton and Darren Fletcher becoming established members of their clubs, Levein is delighted to see players such as Charlie Adam and Graham Dorrans also make their way into the top flight with Blackpool and West Brom respectively.
"It's not my place to say who should go where or who should stay. The more Scotland players who are testing themselves every week at the highest level, then the better it's going to be," he said.
"It's purely selfish. I'm not a club manager now. I'd love to see all our guys playing at the top level in the Premier League but I don't think that's going to happen."
Adam's performances for Blackpool, including a stunning free-kick in the Seasiders' 3-2 play-off victory over Cardiff on Saturday to reach the top division, have been of an extremely high stand, and Levein was delighted to see the 24-year-old about to make the step up.
Enormous progress
"Charlie, in the games I've seen him playing in since I took the Scotland job, has been Blackpool's best player," said Levein.
"I think that's widely recognised by the players and the management at the club.
"He has progressed enormously over the last year or so and he is now going to be playing on the biggest stage of all."
With regards to Rangers striker Kris Boyd moving to the Premier League, Levein insisted that although the more Scots that appear in the top flight the better, it was not his call to make.
"I'm not telling Kris Boyd what to do or what not to do," the Scotland boss added.
"He's had another good season and it's up to him to decide where he plays. If he's still at Rangers next year, he's playing at a fantastically high level.
"If he goes down to the Premier League, then, arguably, he's moving up a level. If he goes abroad, in recent history, some Scottish lads who have gone abroad have improved by doing so.
Need to play
The former Motherwell boss also said the same of young Ibrox prospect Danny Wilson, who is expected to move to Liverpool, although he was concerned about the 18-year-old's limited chances of making the first team.
"Again, I'm stepping outside my domain," he said.
"That's for the lad and Rangers and whoever is after him to decide. What I do believe is players, when they get to 18,19,20, they need to play.
"If he was going to sit in a reserve team for four or five years and get lost...I firmly believe they need to play football. Again, I don't think Danny or his agents will be phoning me."
Levein also revealed he had not given up hope in his pursuit of persuading Newcastle striker Andy Carroll to switch his allegiance from England to Scotland.
"I'm tenacious when it comes to these things," he said of Carroll.
"We will wait and see what happens. I'm not in any hurry.
"I can understand the lad's position, he has been involved in the England set-up and it's quite right that he wants to see out his time in the under-21s. I can understand that.
"But I think it's about playing international matches and gaining caps. If the door does close on him for the first-team level at England, then we will certainly pursue it."
