Scotland striker Steven Fletcher has revealed how he feared his international career had come to an end.
Fletcher, pictured, who is to lead the line for the Scots against the Republic of Ireland at Celtic Park on Friday night in Euro 2016 qualifying Group D, was shut out by former manager Craig Levein before a tweet to a fan helped open the door again.
A conversation with Levein followed and the outcome was a dramatic return to the national squad for the Sunderland frontman.
Now all is sweetness and light playing in a somewhat rejuvenated national team under the management of Gordon Strachan.
However, there were dark days when it all turned so sour for Fletcher.
“There was a time I thought I wouldn’t get another cap,” he admitted.
“So it’s good to be back and I am glad to be playing again. Obviously when you are sitting back watching Scotland on the TV as I was, you want to be there.
“Instead, I was thinking that things were never going to get sorted out. It did drag on for a long time and you get to a stage where you think: ‘Right, this is never going to happen. I need to move on.’
“We did manage to sort it, fortunately, and I am past that now. It was a difficult time and I think it would be difficult for any player.
“When things weren’t going well for the team, I wanted to be there helping. When things were going well, I wanted to be part of it.
“So it was hard but I have learned from it and it has made me a different person.”
It was a social media message, typing the “yes” to a supporter when asked if he wanted to play for Scotland again, that started the ball rolling, so to speak.
“I think it was just a one-word tweet, answering a question from a fan,” he said.
“When I did get the call, though, I was delighted.”
Given he and Levein didn’t seem to be best pals, to put it politely, how did that talk with the former Dundee United gaffer go?
“I thought it was going to go worse than it was,” said Fletcher.
“We both spoke honestly, it was fine and there was no atmosphere. I recall that he said: ‘Do you want to come back?’ I replied: ‘Yeah.’ That was it, really.”
There will be some familiar faces in the Republic camp on Friday, with Sunderland defender John O’Shea likely to face up to him, and former Black Cats boss Martin O’Neill in the opposition dugout.
“I know a few of the Irish boys and I have been talking about this game with big John in training most days,” he said.
“I am good friends with him and we are looking forward to a good battle. We have a go at each other week in, week out in training, so it should be good.”