Last updated 13:08, Wednesday, 15 October 2008

It's a wonder the dummy flying out of Kris Boyd’s mouth didn’t put one of George Burley’s eyes out.

The Rangers striker has behaved like a big baby by vowing never to play for Scotland again while Burley is still in charge.

The Scotland camp will be better off without a player whose petulant behaviour after being left on the bench during Saturday’s 0-0 home draw against Norway has betrayed him as a prima donna with an over-inflated view of his own self worth.

And good on the Scotland boss for standing his ground and being prepared to publicly say what so many of us are thinking – that Boyd has no passion, no pride and will be no great loss.

True, it was bewildering that Burley didn’t bring on Boyd as a last throw of the dice during Saturday’s game. The striker, below, has scored seven goals in 15 international appearances and he’s proved on many occasions for both club and country that he’s capable of coming off the bench and grabbing a goal in the fag-end of matches. But what Boyd seems to need reminding of is that it is an honour and a privilege for a footballer to represent their country – not a right.

It is also not up to players to pick and choose which manager they play under or demand to be in the starting line-up.

Burley may have – rightly – questioned the wisdom of playing Boyd while he is still only on the fringes of the Rangers team.

Since Walter Smith took over at Ibrox, he has been left out of the starting line-up just as often as he's played, suggesting a distrust of the player’s ability.

He’s regarded by Smith as an impact player, capable of coming off the bench all fired up because he’s angry at being left out of the starting line-up and ready to prove a point.

On his day, he’s capable of being a hero. But Boyd is assuming a lot if he thinks that fans will support his decision to quit international football or if he thinks he can walk straight back into the team when Burley’s time is up.

The striker has totally misjudged the mood of fans. The Scots are a proud nation who have high expectations of players and Boyd’s huffy behaviour has shown a lack of respect for his country and for the Tartan Army.