Riordan overlooked again by Levein

Craig Levein has once again left Hibs star Derek Riordan kicking his heels after naming his squad to take on the Czech Republic and Spain in the latest EURO 2012 qualifiers.

The Scotland gaffer has instead included uncapped, Surrey born forward Jamie Mackie of QPR – a player with a goals to game ratio of 1 in 5 having previously plyed his trade with MK Dons, Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle.

Riordan is sure to feel aggrieved at missing out under Levein once more although many Hibees believe the Scotland gaffer has an anti Hibs agenda which he’s held since his time as manager of capital rivals Hearts.

Givin the dearth of natural talent within the Scottish game at the moment and the national side in particular, it’s certainly nothing to do with the striker’s ability which sees him omitted from the squad.

Levein stated earlier this season he’d watched Deeks and suggested he needed to up his workrate in order to secure a squad role with Scotland, something any analyst would say the player has certainly done, and then some, over the past 18 months.

By continually ignoring Riordan yet including Steven Naismith simply because he turns out for one half of the Old Firm, the Scotland boss had better hope his side begin to score goals, and quickly.

Had Riordan been on the park in Lithuania, Scotland would have been sitting on maximum points in the group.

He’d have buried the chances both Miller and especially Naismith passed up.

The Hibs man has 3 goals to his name so far this season playing in a side which has yet to find any resemblance of form and scored a magnificent effort against Celtic at Parkhead last Saturday.

Scotland squad

Goalkeepers:

McGregor (Rangers), Gilks (Blackpool), Gordon (Sunderland)

Defenders: Hutton (Tottenham), Berra (Wolves), Broadfoot (Rangers), McManus (Middlesbrough), G Caldwell (Wigan), Weir (Rangers), Whittaker (Rangers)

Midfielders:

Adam (Blackpool), Brown (Celtic), Dorrans (West Brom), McCulloch (Rangers), Fletcher (Manchester United), Morrison (West Brom), Robson (Middlesbrough), McEveley (Barnsley), Maloney (Celtic)

Forwards:

Fletcher (Wolves), Iwelumo (Burnley), Mackie (QPR), Miller (Rangers), Naismith (Rangers).