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{ (UKPA) – 4 hours ago

Steven Fletcher will not play again for Scotland under Craig Levein, Press Association Sport understands.

It emerged on Wednesday morning that the Wolves striker, 23, turned down a place in Levein's squad for next week's Carling Nations Cup clash with Northern Ireland in Dublin.

When informed that he was under consideration for selection, Fletcher sent a text message to Frank Reilly, a Scottish Football Association official, stating that he did not want to be selected and that the national team boss could phone him if he wanted.

Levein was ready to recall Fletcher after dropping him from the squad for the friendly against Faroe Islands in November and not playing him in October's Euro 2012 qualifiers against Czech Republic and Spain.

The former Hearts and Dundee United boss had shrugged off critical comments made by Fletcher about the controversial 4-6-0 formation used by Scotland in the 1-0 defeat in Prague. However, it is understood that there is no chance of Levein selecting the player again.

Levein was quoted as saying: "Steven Fletcher was selected, but he has since indicated that he did not wish to be selected for Scotland."

The Scotland boss was reluctant to discuss the situation in detail, preferring to focus on those who were willing and able to make their way to Dublin next week.

He said: "What I have found since taking this job is that I want to work with people who want to play for Scotland. I look at guys like Phil Bardsley, who has changed his nationality to play for Scotland and, after the Spain game, he was the proudest man in the world because his dad was in tears watching his son playing for Scotland.

"Jamie Mackie is another one: his grandfather is over the moon that he's being picked for Scotland and these guys want to run their heart out and do their best for Scotland and they made their families immensely proud.

"What I don't want is anyone in the squad who is not of that mind. For the life of me I just can't understand anyone who doesn't want to be part of what is happening."

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