O'Connor set to offer SFA apology

O'Connor was left out of Alex McLeish's first Scotland squad

Locomotiv Moscow striker Garry O'Connor has admitted that he owes the Scottish FA an apology for his absence ahead of last October's Ukraine Euro qualifier

Speaking in a Russian newspaper, the former Hibernian player acknowledges that he should have spoken to then manager Walter Smith.

"I really should have called Walter myself and told him about my family problems," he told Sport Express.

"In the near future I'll offer my apologies to the SFA."

O'Connor is currently in Turkey with the Locomotiv squad ahead of the new Russian season, at the same time as new Scotland manager Alex McLeish meets with a 30-man squad at Turnberry.

If everything turns out okay, I will see out my contract with Lokomotiv with pleasure Garry O'Connor

"I hope that for the next [Scotland] match I will be invited," he added.

"It may not sound modest, but at the end of the day I am one of the best Scottish strikers and I have the right to play for the national team."

O'Connor appeared to be on the way out of the Russian club as his family failed to settle in Moscow.

However, the 23-year-old thinks there is scope for prolonging his stay at the club.

"I had talks with the club manager Sergei Lipatov and the new president Yuric Syomin," he said.

"They immediately let me know that they wanted me to stay at the club and are prepared to improve the living conditions for me.

"Most probably we will move to a house out of town. Also the club management have promised us a driver, a nanny for our son and a Russian teacher for me.

"It's too early to say, we need to wait until the summer at least.

"If everything turns out okay, I will see out my contract with Lokomotiv with pleasure.

"I have said on more than one occasion that I personally have no problem here."

O'Connor claims that two Premiership and three Championship clubs were interested in signing him before the January transfer window closed last week.

"All negotiations with the Loko leadership and potential buyers were conducted by my agent Gary Mackay, so therefore I don't know all the details," O'Connor said.

"I only heard that Wigan, Aston Villa, Norwich, Birmingham and West Brom were interested in my services.

"It's true that the last three options I would have turned down since these clubs do not play in the Premier League."

Meanwhile, James McFadden has revealed he has not given up hope of being fit for the crucial trip to Italy next month.

The Everton striker broke his foot playing head tennis two weeks ago and was expected to miss out on the March double header, with suspension already ruling him out of the Georgia tie.

At the same time, the former Motherwell player says he will not jeopardise the team's chances on getting a result by returning too soon.