Burley - Trio could have returned

Burley: Would have picked players

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Former Scotland boss George Burley insists he would have welcomed Barry Ferguson, Allan McGregor and Kris Boyd back if he had still been manager.

Ferguson and McGregor had been handed lifetime bans by the Scottish Football Association after being photographed flicking V-signs at photographers during April's World Cup qualifier against Iceland.

Those suspensions have since been lifted, with new boss Craig Levein having confirmed both players will be considered for selection.

The SFA have consistently said the decision to ban the pair was fully supported by Burley but the 53-year-old, who was sacked in November, has now insisted he would have had no problem picking them.

"I think you've got to move on," he said.

"The players have got to realise that they're playing for their country.

"If they're passionate and realised what's happened before and are going to give their best shot...

"It's the SFA who are the ones that are going to decide. They're the ones who looked at it and came to that conclusion (to ban them).

"I tried to back the players as much as I could but sometimes you've got to take a step back."

Rangers striker Boyd ended his self-imposed exile from international football following Levein's appointment last month.

The Scottish Premier League's record scorer refused to play under Burley after being left on the bench in a World Cup qualifier against Norway in October 2008.

Asked if Boyd, Birmingham midfielder Ferguson and Rangers goalkeeper McGregor would have wanted to play under him again, Burley said: "Kris Boyd, I think he made his mind up.

"The other two players, it was something that happened and the SFA decided to do that (ban them).

"It's up to people to prove that they're worth another chance."