Novo: Has not ruled out Spain call-up
Rangers striker Nacho Novo has stated that he has not given up hope of representing the Spanish national side despite declaring he would accept a call-up from Scotland.
After spending eight years in Scotland playing for the likes of Raith Rovers, Dundee and Rangers the 29-year-old qualifies to play for Scotland under Fifa regulations.
He told the Scottish Sun: "I've always had it in my mind to play for Spain. But I know it's difficult because people in Spain aren't really interested in the SPL.
"They think if you're playing for a Scottish team you're not good enough to play in the Spanish national team."
The Scottish Football Association have added that they would not stand in manager George Burley's way if he was to call up the Spaniard but stated that the striker would have to apply for UK citizenship first.
Born-and-bred
An SFA spokesman said: "At present, he does not hold a British passport and is therefore not eligible to play for any of the home nations.
"If that situation were to change then he would be considered like any other player."
Novo would become the first player to represent Scotland under Fifa's five-year residency rule and current Scotland and Celtic captain Stephen McManus has backed the move.
He said: "It doesn't bother me in the slightest - you want good players to be playing for your country and Nacho Novo is a good player."
Meanwhile, Novo's Rangers team-mate David Weir has mixed feelings on the prospect of the striker becoming a Scottish international.
He said: "If we are all being honest, it's probably not an ideal scenario. You would like 11 born-and-bred Scots and that would be the ideal scenario.
"But if other countries are doing it and getting the benefit of it, then we have to look to use it to our benefit as well."
