Scotland boss allows Kenny Miller to miss friendly with Australia

Craig Levein says the Australia match will allow him to assess Scotland's other attacking options.SNS Group

Scotland manager Craig Levein says he won’t call up striker Kenny Miller for the national team’s friendly with Australia next month.

The 32-year-old signed for Vancouver Whitecaps last week and would face a near 9,000-mile trip to feature in the match at Easter Road - as would team-mate Barry Robson.

However Levein says he will allow the forward to adjust to his new life in MLS.

He told The Mail on Sunday: “I could have insisted [he] came across for Australia.

“But I don’t need to know what he can or can’t do for Scotland. I had a chat with him the other day and he offered to come back.

“However, compared to what we’d get from hauling Kenny over here for the friendly and then him getting back for another club game at the weekend, it’s more important that we let him settle down to play for Vancouver.

“That will allow Kenny to get up to speed and completely ready for the September and October qualifiers. In any case, at some point I am going to need to look at other option other than Kenny.”

Miller has scored 16 goals in 60 appearances for the national side since making his debut against Poland in April 2001.

Scotland kick-off their World Cup 2014 qualifying campaign in September with home games against Serbia and Macedonia.

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