Driver has been capped at Under-21 level for England

Hearts' Andrew Driver has said he wants to play for Scotland after the national boss Craig Levein reignited his bid to select the English-born player.

Driver, 22, does not fulfil new qualification criteria, having not been schooled in Scotland for five years.

"I was a bit surprised when I heard about this possible change but it's encouraging as I was disappointed when it didn't work out," said Driver.

"I still want to play for Scotland and I'm glad the rules might change."

Levein said on Sunday he was hopeful of being able to select Driver for the national squad.

The winger fell two months short of eligibility rules agreed by the four British football associations.

"I still haven't given up on Andy," said Levein. "I'm still hoping we can do something with that."

Levein is now hoping to get the rules relaxed further to allow Driver to switch allegiance from England, who he represented at Under-21 level last summer.

I'm hoping we can rewrite or reword the current agreement Scotland manager Craig Levein

Levein, who is something of a mentor to Driver after helping guide him through the youth ranks at Hearts, said: "I'm hoping we can rewrite or reword the current agreement.

"It is a kind of gentleman's agreement between the four nations which then gets lodged with Fifa, so there is still a possibility and we are working on that."

Levein hopes to include Driver in his European Championship qualifying plans next season but added: "I really don't know what timescale we are looking at.

"It is something we are trying to do something about but I'm not up to speed on the workings at that level and how long it takes to do anything.

"There have been early noises made about it. I'm not saying it is definitely going to happen or that it's not going to happen but I am saying that it is something I have not given up on."

Driver, who played for Scotland schoolboys, said last year that he considered himself Scottish, but wanted to concentrate on his career at Hearts before making a decision about his international career.

However, he later told Levein that his mind was made up, and he wanted to play for Scotland.

"If it does go through then it would give me something to aim for but having said that I am not expecting to walk into the team," Driver told the Hearts website.

"I have to earn the right to be in the team and that means I have to be playing well at club level.

"It is my name which has been used in these stories but it is not all about me. Hopefully others could benefit from any change as well."

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