Play for Cardiff and you'll never play for Scotland, Marsahll warned

CARDIFF CITY goalkeeper DAVID MARSHALL has been warned by new Scotland boss Craig Levein that his international career will end if he plays for The Bluebirds in their Cardling Cup tie with Burton Albion at CCS tomorrow night.

City and Last week, City and Dave Jones tried to withdraw "Mars" from Scotland's friendly in Sweden tomorrow (when he was certain to be on the bench) at a time they faced playing Burton with no recognised goalkeeper available, a situation which has passed after Tom Heaton has now registered with the club and he will surely figure tomorrow.

Marshall, apparently, has been struggling with an elbow injury for a while but flew to Scotland on Sunday evening after Cardiff's draw with Sheffield United to joj the squad and be medically assessed before being released. It therefore makes Levein's puiblic comments seem a bit harsh but as Wales fans have seen, there has been many a time a player has been "injured" for his country and then played for his club.

When asked what would happen if Marshall played for City, Levein was forthright, "If he plays for Cardiff tomorrow night, then I don't think he will be back in the Scotland squad. We have to put some rules in place that if you are playing in a game just before the call-up and you get an injury, then I think it is right that you turn up and let the doctors assess the injury - and that is what has happened."

"However he praised Marshall for joining the squad and his attitude, "I spoke to the lad amnd to be fair he came up on the flight Sunday night and flew back first thing yesterday. He has a problem with his elbow and has had it for weeks now. In my opinion and the medical team's opinion he is not fit to play on Wednesday. I have to look at these situations and listen to what the medical team tell me and really pleased the lad made the effort to come up when he knew he was not going to be involved."

"I am fairly comfortable (with reasons for the call-offs]. I just want to get this idea that if you do have an injury then I would like them to come up and be part of the squad, even if it is just for a night to see the guys. We don't get together often enough that we can let these opportunities go past."