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Barry Ferguson considering international return

Barry Ferguson has starred for Birmingham this season © Getty Images

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Birmingham midfielder Barry Ferguson claims new Scotland boss Craig Levein is the only manager who could tempt him to return to international football.

Ferguson, along with then-Rangers team-mate Allan McGregor, was banned from representing Scotland after a drinking session and subsequent gestures on camera that followed a match with Netherlands in March last year.

However, after George Burley's dismissal in November, the SFA confirmed the new boss would be free to select the duo. Levein has since held talks with Ferguson, and the player is now weighing up his options.

"As soon as Craig got announced as Scotland manager, I said he was the right man for the job," he said. "He is the only guy I would probably consider coming back to play for.

"Myself and Craig Levein have agreed with each other to keep what has been said private. I've still got a lot of thinking to do and I am nowhere near a decision.

"I am fully committed to Birmingham. I will give them a full season. They took a chance on me when people were knocking me down. I owe them everything.

"I have all that to take into account and it will be a long time before I decide what I do. I am nowhere near a decision and I need to sit down and go through a lot of things.

"If it means I go away and come back, and I'm not going to play here well, there is no chance of me going back. There is still loads to discuss, but the meetings were good and he is a guy I respect and he has given me time to go away and think about it.

"There are loads of things I have to take into consideration and I have to be honest with the gaffer (Alex McLeish) as well. He has given me a platform to come down here and play. I've not had a long chat with him yet. I need to sit down and see what his thoughts are."

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