Warnock nervous over Mackie's call-up
NEIL WARNOCK will plead with Scotland boss Craig Levein to go easy on Jamie Mackie in training because of the Rangers striker's dodgy hamstring.
Mackie's stunning eight-goal start to the campaign has earned his first call-up to the Tartan squad and Warnock, although thrilled for his summer signing from Plymouth, is also anxious that his player returns from the international break in one piece.
"I've got to speak to Craig Levein, if I can, to make sure they don't train him too hard. He can't train too much between games at the minute because of his hamstring," Warnock said.
"We don't want him to go up there and try and impress them all by trying too hard and end up knackering himself.
"But I think it's a great accolade. I'm proud of him. Mackie's got something Scotland don't have and that's pace. So it's an option for them."
Warnock said Mackie's amazing form had set a great example at the training ground.
"Every day he comes in and is just full of enthusiasm," Warnock said.
"If he went to the park and the kids were one short, he'd take his coat off and join in. That's how he is. I thought those kind of players had gone now, but he can't do enough.
"It rubs off on the other players. I don't think it's a co-incidence that Hogan Ephraim is playing as well as he's every played. I think he's seen what Jamie's brought to the table and Hogan's gone in a different direction – off the field as well as on it. He looks a far better player."
