Club manager 'disappointed' Stewart isn't in Scotland squad

But Commons injury re-opens door

CSABA Laszlo, the Hearts manager, admitted yesterday he was disappointed that Michael Stewart had been omitted from the Scotland squad to play Norway next Saturday. Later in the day, however, it emerged that Kris Commons of Derby County is set to miss the World Cup qualifier because of injury, leaving the door open for Stewart to return.

Stewart, a key player for Hearts in their rise to third place in the SPL, was called up by George Burley for the double-header which opened the World Cup campaign, the matches in Macedonia and Iceland. The midfielder had begun the season by saying he would not think about a national recall until he had begun to play consistently well at club level, but more recently he admitted the next target for him was to be named in the original squad rather than being required to rely on call-offs.

He failed to meet that target this time round, however, and his manager, while making the customary respectful noises about Burley's right to come to his own decisions, did imply that he thought Stewart was playing well enough to be included. "If I am honest, I am disappointed he is not in the squad because Mike Stewart is in good form, but this is only my opinion," Laszlo said.

"Michael Stewart is my player and I see him every day. He is a good sportsman and a leader in his position.

"He is in good form, but I respect the decision. And I also think Mike respects the decision from the national coach too."

Commons, right, who was born in Mansfield and qualifies for Scotland through grandparents, is a winger, so Stewart would not be a like-for-like replacement. But Burley already has others in his squad are capable of playing in a wide role, which could give Stewart a chance of being drafted in as a central midfielder.

Three weeks have now passed since Commons was fit to play, suggesting that his inclusion in the Scotland squad may either have been over-optimistic, or was simply an indication that he remained in Burley's longer-term plans. Since playing in Derby's win over Sheffield United he has been trying, so far in vain, to shrug off a knee strain, and his club manager said yesterday there was no way he would be ready for next weekend's international.

"He's just not fit, so he won't be going away with Scotland," County manager Paul Jewell told the Derby Evening Telegraph. "I don't know what the procedure is. I'm not quite sure if they want him to train and have the doctor look at him. We don't want to stop players representing their countries, but Kris is not fit. Our main concern is getting him fit for our next home game."

Commons, 25, has three Scotland caps. The first of those, the friendly in August against Northern Ireland, was the game in which Stewart represented his country for the fourth time – six years after he won his third cap.

Stewart will take the field against Kilmarnock this afternoon knowing he could play his way to a fifth cap. Bruno Aguiar, who is back for Hearts after a long-term injury, could play behind him in the centre of midfield.