Dunfermline manager Jim Jefferies admits he has reluctantly accepted defeat in a club versus country tug-of-war over Scotland Under-19 defender Lewis Martin.
The 18-year-old has been called up by Ricky Sbragia for next week’s Euro qualifying round clashes in Lithuania against Finland, the hosts and Norway.
And even though the opening match against the Fins does not take place until Tuesday, Martin is unavailable for the League One trip to Stirling Albion as the squad fly out on Saturday.
Jefferies also looks set to be without the centre-half for next Friday’s match at promotion rivals Ayr United.
The former Hearts and Kilmarnock’s manager was so desperate to have Martin available for the weekend that he phoned Scottish FA performance director Mark Wotte.
Jefferies said: “We’ve got Lewis Martin away with Scotland. He has to leave on the Saturday and they have preference over us.
“We can’t do anything about that for the fact that it’s a European qualifier. He can’t play for us so that’s a big blow.
“I tried to speak to the SFA about Lewis going away but Mark said, if one gets away with it then so would all the rest.
“We’re a bit different, however, as Lewis plays regularly.
“It’s just all down to flights, they couldn’t get flights booked on the Sunday so they have to go Saturday.
“It will depend on how they get on or if they need him whether he will be back for next Friday’s game against Ayr United.
“You can’t go with the same players all the time so it’s an opportunity for others to come in.”
Martin’s loss is one of two enforced changes that Jefferies will have to make against the Binos with midfielder Ryan Thomson facing a month out with a groin tear.
Jefferies added: “Thommo had just gotten himself back in and we gave him a run in midfield, but he tore his groin and that will keep him out for about four weeks.”
Jefferies, meanwhile, insists their League One rivals are not resorting to heavy-handed tactics in a bid to stop his team, despite Peterhead having three players sent off during last weekend’s 3-0 win for the Fife outfit.
Jefferies added: “I think everyone team is raising their game and competing against us, there is a difference.
“The two tackles on Saturday were deemed reckless and dangerous so it does not matter what team you’re playing against, that will always be the case.
“We have to live with that and deal with that, we finished second last season with Rangers being in the league.
“Teams do raise their game, I’m sure; look at Morton. Jim Duffy said it was the best they had played since he’d been there when they beat us.”