Commons is right to quit Scotland

International football doesn’t mean as much as it once did.

That’s why I’m not entirely surprised Kris Commons has pulled the plug on his Scotland career.

For players these days, the Champions League is the be-all and end-all.

Pulling on the national shirt just isn’t as meaningful as it used to be especially when the country in question hasn’t been to a major tournament in 15 years.

If Kris Commons was turning out for Scotland in World Cups and European Championships, he’d probably never have decided to call it quits.

But the prospect of travelling to the back of beyond for a succession of meaningless friendlies can’t be all that appealling.

Instead he’s decided to protect himself and concentrate on his career at Celtic and on playing in more Champions League games.

I can’t blame him at all players are entitled to look after themselves.

OK, so he’s only 29, but he’s had his share of injury problems in the past and he’ll know himself how many games a year he’s capable of playing.

I’ve said before that in 1981, the year I won the UEFA Cup with Ipswich, we had players, including myself, who must have played upwards of 60 games. At the time you didn’t think about it but those days are gone.

For me, it’s not a question of disrespect or of not having the bottle for international football.

If Kris feels he can prolong his club career this way, he’s well within his rights to do so.

I would never have made that decision, of course.

I grew up in King’s Park in Glasgow, looking down the hill straight into Hampden, so playing for my country meant everything.

But Kris can’t be blamed for not feeling the same not least because he grew up in Mansfield.

Nonetheless, as much as I’m willing to defend his right to quit, he will be an enormous miss for Scotland.

It says it all that Gordon Strachan, a man who is no mug, is willing to leave the door open in case he changes his mind.

Scotland isn’t blessed with an embarrassment of riches when it comes to players.

In Kris Commons, we had a man who, if he was in the mood, was capable of changing games.

He’s obviously not in the mood any more so walking away is the right thing to do.

But whoever takes his place will have a big pair of boots to fill.