The 29-year-old Spaniard hit the headlines by claiming he would probably accept a call to represent his adopted country.

The Scottish Football Association at first confirmed Novo, who has lived in Scotland for eight years, would be considered for selection if he successfully applied for a British passport.

As the story expanded into almost a country-wide debate about nationality, the controversy took another twist when SFA chief executive Gordon Smith insisted the ruling body would be returning to their original Home Nations agreement that players will only be eligible to play for Scotland if they qualify through a grandparent.

Novo, at Rangers' Murray Park training centre to confirm a donation from the club of £7,500 to Poppyscotland, an organisation that raises money for the armed forces, admitted that the question of his eligibility had spiralled out of control, while joking that his team-mates have named him "Hamish McNovo".

"I didn't start anything," he said.

"I was just asked a question and I said what I felt, that if something happened then I would be happy to play.

"It was a simple answer to a simple question, that's all but everyone has taken it too far.

"I was surprised by the reaction.

"I haven't had any contact with anybody (from the SFA), I find out everything from what I read in the papers.

"I respect everyone's opinions, people will be with you, people will be against you, but I don't want any trouble at all.

"My sister heard about it back in Spain, it was big news back there as well.

"There has been a lot of fun in the dressing room and my team-mates call me Hamish McNovo and things like that.

"Everybody has had a laugh and it's been quite funny.

"But I just want to play football and be happy, that's all."

Asked if he felt Scottish, Novo joked: "Can't you hear my Glaswegian accent?

"It's been a long time, eight years, and my family is Scottish.

"Scotland is my home, I came from a lower division club in Spain to here and everybody has helped me and been really nice to me."

The former Raith Rovers and Dundee striker claimed he had been thinking about applying for a British passport before the issue of him looking to win a Scotland cap became public.

He said: "I haven't applied for my passport yet but even before the question of whether I would play for Scotland or not arose, I was always thinking about getting a passport for my family - not to play for Scotland.

"But I haven't started the process yet."

Returning to matters on the pitch, the Light Blues striker claimed no long-term damage had been done by the 3-3 home draw with Dundee United at Ibrox on Tuesday night which left Celtic at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

He said: "All teams (outside the Old Firm) can get points, not just at Ibrox.

"Celtic have also been losing and drawing games in the last few years.

"It was a good game against Dundee United, we made some mistakes but these things happen in football.

"There is still a long way to go."