Burley hits back at Boyd

9:28pm Monday 13th October 2008

Scotland manager George Burley insists he only needs players who will "fight for the cause" after Kris Boyd quit the international scene.

The Rangers striker said he would no longer play for Burley after spending the entirety of the goalless World Cup qualifier against Norway on Saturday on the bench.

"Kris is disappointed not to play but this is your country you're talking about," Burley said. "I've never had a cross word with Kris. They come in, stay at five-star hotels, in this day and age they have massive wages. How much do you care? You don't need to like everybody. This is your country."

He added: "Okay, he didn't get on but the only way Kris Boyd is going to get in the team is playing regular, showing what he can do, coming to the squad and looking lively and bright and look better than the other strikers. That's how you get in the team.

"You have got to show that passion and if you don't want to show it, you make that decision that you want to step out, fine.

"We have big games coming up, people might think we are out of it but we're not, we are in second position.

"We need people wanting to fight for the cause, go to war for the country. Roll your sleeves up and go for it."

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