O'CONNOR SETS SCOTLAND RECORD STRAIGHT

GARRY O'CONNOR and Derek Riordan were 100-goal hitmen for Hibs.

Now O'Connor dreams of repeating that partnership for Scotland.

The Birmingham City striker looks around the English Premiership and doesn't see too many Scottish strikers for George Burley to cast his eye over.

He knows a run of games in Alex McLeish's side should see him firmly back in the international reckoning after a stop-start Scotland career which has landed him only 16 caps since his debut seven years ago.

In a straight-talking interview, O'Connor turned the microscope on that Scotland career - and strenuously denied the whispering campaign that says he doesn't want to play for his country and even got himself deliberately booked to miss out on the 2007 trip to Georgia.

But it's the potential partnership with old Easter Road pal Riordan - with whom he scored 101 goals in three seasons at Hibs - which O'Connor is looking ahead to.

He said: "Deeks and I worked well together at Hibs, and he's definitely had a new lease of life since going back there. I speak to him a lot and I can tell that.

"I spoke to him after the Scotland game in Japan and he was disappointed not to play for longer over there.

"We understand one another's game so well, but he's a fantastic player. I don't think people really understand just how good a player he is.

"He's had a lot of off-field problems, but on the pitch he's just fantastic, one of the best finishers I've seen in the game - and I've played in Russia and England.

"His work rate's got better, he's working harder in the gym, and he's bulked up a little bit.

"I hope he can get in Scotland squads, but it's up to him, same as it's up to me. If we could get there I'm sure we can team up together,

"Sometimes you just click with a striker and we certainly had that understanding at Hibs. I always knew the positions he was going to be in, because he was basically a wee cheat - he used to just stand up front on the left wing!

"He's an intelligent player, though, and maybe people don't understand that part of his game.

"He's worked hard and it would be great if we both got the call for Scotland."

O'Connor speaks enthusiastically of his Scotland future, but there have always been doubts over his appetite.

His decision to vanish from the squad after the Hampden win over France in October 2006 - after which he was axed from the squad for the game in Ukraine four days later - cast doubts about his desire, even though he subsequently apologised and explained it had stemmed from a domestic matter involving his sister Kerry.

However, football message boards were buzzing over him again a year later when there was speculation he had deliberately got himself booked shortly after going on as a sub in a Euro 2008 qualifier against Ukraine so he would miss the trip to Georgia four days later.

He didn't play for Scotland again for almost two years.

But he insists: "There's been a lot of complete nonsense written.

"Everybody wants to play for their country and I'm not any different.

"No one knows what it's like to pull that blue jersey on unless they've experienced it. The shivers go through your body.

"I felt I'd have played in Georgia if I hadn't been booked on the Saturday and I was disappointed not to go.

"I want to play for my country every time and whoever says I don't is talking nonsense.

"There were domestic reasons for me pulling out of the Ukraine game and I didn't really have any control over that.

"Football can be hurtful - you get the knocks and you get people talking s**t, but you've just got to get on with it. I've heard it all before, my family's been hurt by it and my missus has been hurt by it, but it goes over my head now.

"I've had spells in and out and I've had injuries, but the one thing I can't argue with is that I could have had a lot more caps.

"If I had been able to avoid injuries, I'd be looking at having between 30 and 35 caps.

Opportunity

"I started out at roughly the same time as James McFadden and Gary Caldwell, so I should have the kind of numbers they have.

"A lot of that is down to injuries because the last time I had a full season was probably back at Hibs.

"Most of those have been groin injuries, but I'm hopeful our physio at Birmingham, Tim Williamson, has sorted all that out.

"I believe there's an opportunity for me to take with Scotland.

"I look around the Premiership and there aren't a lot of Scottish strikers. Young Steven Fletcher at Burnley and that's really it. The rest are in Scotland.

"If I can cement my place at Birmingham and score goals, I'll be chapping on the door with the next qualifying campaign coming up.

"And I genuinely believe if I get a few games under my belt I can be a hero to the Scotland fans.

"We have got a friendly in Wales shortly and I hope to be involved in it.

"I had a little calf problem, so I couldn't go to Japan, but I'm focusing on doing well here and hopefully George will pick me on the strength of that.

"The priority is doing well for the club. I haven't scored as many goals as I'd have liked, but some of that's down to the way Birmingham set out to play.

"My overall performances have been fine and George Burley's been at a few of the games.

"I've spoken to him and he's been happy with what he's seen. I feel I'm going to be part of his squad.

"I'm only 26, I'm still a young boy. I've still hopefully got nine years of my career to go.

"I'm quite sure George won't be there for nine years as Scotland manager, but if I can play well in the Premiership then I'm sure I can do well for Scotland.

"I'm playing in the best league in the world, against all different types of players every week - guys who are physically strong, who've got pace, who are all aware of any positions you can get yourself into, so you've got to be smarter as a striker.

"If you speak to Alex McLeish, he's said I've matured into a good player. I think playing in Russia made me cleverer. They worked a lot there on striker's movement.

"The amount of training was great - double sessions every day, working on fitness, psychology, everything. You were at the training ground seven hours a day.

"When I look back I think I adapted to the lifestyle quite well. I think of it as a positive aspect of my career as opposed to some of the negatives that have happened."

Interview from the Scottish News of the World,

Courtesy of the national team's main sponsor, Tennent's Lager.

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