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Certain club managers have made it plain that they are not happy to see their players travelling huge distances only to be left kicking their heels in the stands.

Chris Coyne's manager at Colchester United is one to have voiced his concerns recently while not everyone in the Scottish media was impressed with McDonald getting no game time against Japan back in February.

But McDonald says Gordon Strachan, a former Scottish international himself, accepts that selection for a squad does not necessarily mean a spot in the starting XI.

He wasn't surprised that his omission against Japan caused something of a fuss back in Glasgow though.

"Not really (surprised)," he said. "When you've got such a big game coming up at the weekend yeah, there's going to be a big fuss in the Scottish media when you've travelled all that way and not played. I'm professional about it.

"I'm disappointed I didn't play but it's a sacrifice you have to make. There'll be other big games coming round and hopefully I can be part of that."

McDonald says it certainly hasn't damaged his relationship with Strachan. He said: "Not at all. I spoke to the manager when we got back and it's not an issue.

"He's played international football himself and he understands the pressures of being a manager. At international level it can be tougher at times and you've got to pick the right time in a matter of 24 hours.

"The manager thought that was the right team (against Japan) and we got the result we wanted. So it was the right team."

To see the latest training session...