On Oct 3rd..Scotland
Under-21 coach Rainer Bonhof has revealed he is willing to
give disciplined Killie goalkeeper Craig
Samson a reprieve.
The Kilmarnock keeper was arrested in his home town before the
European Championship qualifying match against Slovenia last month after
several of
the young Scots players broke a curfew to go to a local nightclub.
While all the players involved were fined by Bonhof, with the money
going to charity, Samson was punished further by being dropped for the
Slovenia game and for the forthcoming European Championship qualifying
double header against Norway and Moldova.
But
the Scots coach insisted the young keeper was not out of the
international picture for good.
He said: "Craig is suspended but we have a match against Sweden in
November and we'll see what happens but everybody needs a second chance
in life.
"I spoke to him and he agreed with my decision and there is
nothing to worry about. He understands that he made a mistake but that's
not a problem and I just want to remind him that he should learn the
lesson
"You have to expect that if young lads are good they will take
that second chance and I hope they accept the mistakes they made.
Bonhof has named Kris Boyd &
Sean Dillion to his squad with Stevie Murray
waiting on "standbye".
On Tuesday
28th Sept...
Rainer Bonhof has advised Berti Vogts
not to fast-track Kris Boyd
into the Scotland senior squad.
"It always happens when one player does well - everyone asks why he
is
not in the national side. But Kris must
stay in the Under-21s. He must develop and become better. Then if his
performance reaches the level good enough for the A squad Berti will
pick him. I am expecting big things
from him, especially after such a brilliant weekend.
And the possibility is always there for
him to get into the A squad if his progress continues.
I just believe it is too early. He has
to keep taking the Under-21 games very seriously and Berti will keep a
check on his progress. We will see what happens in the coming months.
I just think it is too early for him. It
is a landmark when one player scores five
goals
in
one match. When supporters watch from
the stand they may believe he is a complete player. But they have to
understand there was a defence that allowed him to score five goals.
That changes the angle of things from a
coach's view. I'm not blaming the Dundee United back four because the
striker has to be in the right place - and Kris was.
He is one of the toughest lads at
Under-21 level and works very hard for the team."
