GEORGE Burley's focus on younger players would appear to place David Weir's international future in doubt.
The Rangers defender celebrates his 38th birthday on Saturday, four days before his club's appearance in a Uefa Cup final he has played a significant part in them reaching. Weir has not been named in either of Burley's squads so far and it remains
to be seen if he will add to his tally of 61 caps under the new manager.
Whether he remains at Ibrox beyond the expiry of his current contract this summer is likely to be a factor.
Burley was noncommittal on the subject yesterday, although fulsome in his praise of Weir. "He has been absolutely unbelievable this season," said Burley. "His experience, knowledge and appetite for the game is outstanding and it is remarkable that he has hardly missed a game for Rangers.
"From a Scotland point of view, we are looking towards the World Cup qualifying campaign which starts in September, so we will see how things are then."
Rangers captain Barry Ferguson will not lead his country in Prague on 30 May as he is to have surgery on his long-standing ankle injury immediately after the Scottish Cup final on 24 May.
Celtic midfielder Scott Brown has also been omitted to allow him to have a minor operation at the conclusion of his club's season. Burley named his squad more than three weeks before the friendly in Prague in order to inform the English-based players whose seasons have just finished, or are about to finish, whether their services would be required.
"We know there could be injuries before the squad gathers," said Burley, "but hopefully we have the numbers to cope with that."
The full article contains 293 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
