Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish has issued a warning to Barry Ferguson insisting he will not be able to guarantee him a first-team place at St Andrews if he returns to the Scotland national team fold.

George Burley's acrimonious departure from the Hampden Park hoteast earlier this week has not only triggered intense speculation on who will succeed him, but also the possible the return of cast away stars Ferguson and Allan McGregor.

The Blues midfielder and Rangers No.1 were handed lifetime bans from representing their country by the Scottish Football Association after directing V-signs toward photographers during April's World Cup qualifier against Iceland.

The duo were believed to have been placed on the bench as punishment for their part in a boozing incident in the Scotland camp just days earlier, but the SFA have opened the door for the new man in charge to select the disgraced pair.

However, McLeish, who once held the Scotland post, is wary of the tiring effect the move could have on the 31-year-old's career and has hinted a decision to return could cost him his place in the Birmingham starting XI.

"Playing at international level and the Premier League is so demanding," McLeish told the Birmingham Mail.

"If we get into a position where we get a strong squad then players will have to be aware of being rotated when internationals come around when tiredness comes in.

"He's been fantastic so far, but it's something he has to consider."

McLeish has even likened Ferguson's earlier assertions that he would never play for his country again to one of Scotland's favourite sons, when discussing the prospect of a sensational return.

"He [Barry] said 'Never again,' but we have seen Sean Connery say that in the James Bond films, haven't we when he made a comeback."