Report: Sheffield United's John Fleck gets long-awaited Scotland call, but there's a catch

The Sheffield United midfielder was last capped by his country at under-21 level.

9th November 2018, Bramall Lane, Sheffield, England; EFL Championship football, Sheffield United versus Sheffield Wednesday; John Fleck of Sheffield United moves the ball forward

The Sheffield United midfielder John Fleck has received a long-awaited call up to Scotland’s national team, according to the Daily Record.

But the newspaper reports that Fleck has been told to stay at home for Saturday’s trip to Albania and not to report for duty until the following day, ahead of Tuesday’s visit of Israel.

It is claimed Fleck was informed it was too late to amend travel arrangements, despite Scotland’s flight to Tirana departing at 2pm on Friday.

Fleck has been in fine form for Sheffield United this season, continuing where he left off in the previous two campaigns, but had remained overlooked by Scotland bosses Gordon Strachan and Alex McLeish.

Alex McLeish is unveiled by the SFA as the new Scotland National Team manager at Hampden Park on February 16, 2018 in Glasgow, Scotland.

But McLeish was forced into action after Aston Villa’s John McGinn, bother of the former Blades midfielder, Stephen, became the latest player to withdraw from his squad.

Fleck gets the nod ahead of Barry Bannan, the 27-cap Sheffield Wednesday midfielder he helped to stifle during Friday’s derby at Bramall Lane.

Barry Bannan of Sheffield Wednesday during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday at Bramall Lane on November 9, 2018 in Sheffield, England.