The sorry tale of the bride or bridegroom fleeing before their big day is one that has been relayed time and time again. The best man leaving the country at short notice is not so common.

David Clarkson, however, has a good excuse. Even the future Mrs Stephen O'Donnell, who will marry the St Mirren midfielder on Friday, will probably grudgingly acknowledge that the chance to earn your first full international cap supersedes the need to escort your cousin into married life.

Clarkson, therefore, will join up with the remaining members of George Burley's depleted Scotland squad at Glasgow Airport tomorrow and can expect to feature at some point in the friendly match against the Czech Republic on Friday afternoon.

It will bring about a well-deserved conclusion to the most testing of seasons.

It is easy to become maudlin and trite over the hardship endured by Clarkson - tragedy visits us all - but few of us have lost a close family member or friend in such open circumstances and then had our grieving closely monitored by a curious, if sympathetic, public, as the 22-year-old did following the death of Phil O'Donnell, his uncle and team-mate.

Clarkson went on to help Motherwell clinch third place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League and Terry Butcher, the Scotland assistant manager, revealed it gave him enormous pleasure to inform the striker about his international call-up.

"The phonecall to David Clarkson was a lovely one to make," Butcher beamed, with typical enthusiasm. "That was one of the biggest thrills of my life. The season he's had makes his call-up special. Phil's passing was tough, but Clarky's recovery, Motherwell's recovery to reach Europe, and now a call-up is a special thing.

"He's so pleased to be here he's like a mascot or someone who has won a competition to be with the squad. I've told him he's earned the right to be here because of what he's done. He's gone from being a fledgling player, to losing his form and then getting himself together again this season.

"David's character was never in doubt as he has a heart as big as a bucket. He'd run through brick walls for you. But what I'm pleased about is how he's developed.

"He can execute a pass and play others in as well. You see a talent early and sometimes they don't progress as you'd like, but he has come on in leaps and bounds in the most trying of conditions."

Clarkson's arrival at Scotland HQ was offset by the loss of Kris Boyd, who will miss the trip to Prague with a tight hamstring. The Rangers striker's departure took the total number of call-offs for Friday's match to five, with Steven Fletcher, the Hibernian forward, also likely to pull out with a chest complaint.

It comes as little surprise that Butcher, he of the iconic, blood-stained England shirt, has little sympathy for those complaining of injury or fatigue and believes players should think twice before turning down the chance to represent their country.

He added: "I had long seasons at Ipswich and then had to play internationals, but that was not a problem. I'd get maybe 14 days' break and be back for pre-season.

I didn't have burnout, I just had a desire to be playing football. If you get a chance to play for your country then you have to grab it with both hands. Yes, you can pick up an injury, but when do you ever play a game 100% fit?

"Nothing can beat the thrill of playing for your country. It's a massive thing, an unbelievable surge of pride that you feel. You play for a club and its fans, but you don't want to let your country down. If you lose a game it's different letting down fans and letting down your country. The flipside of that is that if you do well then you can excite your whole country. That's a lot of power to have."

British interest in this summer's European Championships stretches only to a sprinkling of match officials. And Butcher hopes the disappointment of missing out on the Austria and Switzerland jamboree will heighten the Scottish players' desire to reach the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

He said: "Now the Euros are coming round, the fact Scotland aren't there really hits you. We're missing out on another one and as the tournament progresses it hurts even more. Scotland want to be there - the nation hasn't been there for 10 years. It's a nightmare scenario.

"Scotland was so close to getting there last time and next time we have to make sure we're there. It's like losing a semi-final or a title - you want to go one better next time."

The Czech Republic will be present at the Euro finals, in a group with Switzerland, Portugal and Turkey, and will wrap up their preparations with Friday's game against Scotland. Butcher hopes to dampen the hosts' fervour.

He added: "The Czechs are a big test. They'll be well prepared as this is their last warm-up game before the finals.

"I've been in a situation when you want a big send off for the finals and to avoid injury. It's a big party but I enjoyed spoiling the party."