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CHARLIE Adam has long since resigned himself to the fact his face doesn’t fit with Gordon Strachan.

But the Stoke City ace reckons every word he reads from the national manager reeks of hypocrisy.

The midfielder spent last week in St Andrews taking his first steps into coaching under the SFA’s watchful eye.

But he ended up more baffled than ever that he wasn’t in Malta and France with the Scotland team.

Even more so as he felt that he ticked the boxes for everything the boss said he was looking for in a player.

(Image: Matthew Mirabelli/AFP/Getty)

Between two severe lessons from Italy and France, Strachan bemoaned the “scared” football he watches from Scots and the lack of choice he has from players operating at the top level.

All of which bewilders ex- Rangers , Blackpool and Liverpool star Adam who, with 25 appearances for ninth-placed Premier League Stoke this season, is actually the highest-placed Scot operating anywhere at any level.

That’s above Darren Fletcher, James McArthur, Russell Martin, Stevie Naismith, Matt Ritchie or anyone else.

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He also possesses a range of passing that still makes him an integral part of club boss Mark Hughes’ strategy when it comes to changing games, yet his 32-minutes spell as a sub against Qatar a year ago is the only cap he’s had in two seasons.

In a brutally honest assessment of his current status in international no-man’s land, the 30-year-old also insists he’s not the only one feeling that way with Hughes also confused –as is club-mate Phil Bardsley, another Adam believes could and should have been in a squad with only rookie Callum Paterson there to fill the right-back slot.

(Image: Action Images via Reuters / Craig Brough)

Speaking to MailSport at his UEFA “B” Licence introductory course, he sighed: “This is enjoyable and it’s something I want to get into.

“I’d rather have been playing against Italy and France but the chance wasn’t there – that’s how it is.

“I just don’t understand it. It’s contradictory. You can’t say you need guys who want to pass the ball, keep it and who play at the highest level then not have them in the squad.

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“It’s difficult as I’m not just a player, I’m a fan and I’m frustrated because I want to be there but at the moment my face doesn’t fit.”

Adam says the qualities Strachan claims he wants in a player are there – but he’s getting mixed messages from the Scotland staff.

He added: “I’m not scared to try things but that’s probably a downfall for me. It’s maybe not what the manager wants. I’ve had talks with the coaches and they’ve said that sometimes I try too many hard passes.

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

“Well, I’ve got the ability to do it. Let the players express themselves and go and play. But I’ve found myself not being involved in the last couple of years for some reason.”

Adam can also claim to have scored some amazing goals during his career – something Scotland could certainly do with. The pick of the bunch would have been his goal for Stoke in a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea in April 2015.

The midfielder picked the ball up in his own half and, spotting Blues keeper Thibaut Courtois off his line, fired a 65-yard shot over the No.1 and into the net.

That sort of ability is sadly missing in the Scotland ranks and Adam added: “Mark Hughes trusts me and says the same as me.

“He finds it hard to figure out why I don’t get in. Listen, everyone has an opinion and that’s fine. But to say what was said – that he wants players to pass it, keep it and to be different . . .

“He has asked when we last produced world-class players but that was several years ago. And while we might not have world-class players, we do have some playing at the top level – so use them. I actually expect not to be involved now.”

Full-back Bardsley is in the same boat. Now 30, he was a regular under Craig Levein, earning 12 caps but has only made one appearance as a sub in three years under Strachan.

Adam said: “He wants to be there too, but for some reason he is not in favour. He has good players ahead of him, like Alan Hutton, but Bardo played 10-12 games in a row at the end of the season and didn’t even get a sniff.

“Callum Paterson has had a good season so it’s not being in any way disrespectful to him. Phil doesn’t expect to go and definitely play, he just wants to be part of it.

“That’s what I don’t understand. Some guys who played under Craig have been pushed to the side.

“It’s a strange scenario as there’s nothing better than representing your country. I still get excited in the lead-up to squads being announced hoping I’ll be in it – then I get

disappointed.

“Gordon has never phoned me. I have not had a conversation at all or a reason why I’ve not been involved.”

Despite his disillusionment, Adam insists he wouldn’t throw the towel in on his cap career.

“Never,” he said. “I was last in a squad for the Qatar game last summer – and that was only due to injuries.

“I probably didn’t play enough games last season but in one spell I played 12 in a row, qualification was ongoing but I was still nowhere near it.

“Every squad I still look to see if my name is there and, when it’s not, I’m disappointed. I still feel as if I have a lot to give the national team.

“I feel I’m a player who’s different from what we have just now. I hope performances will

eventually dictate I get back in but we’ll see. If it happens, great, and if not I’ve 26 caps – I’ll be happy with that.’

(Image: Action)

In the meantime, Adam – whose last two moves to Liverpool and Stoke have racked up £14million in fees – has two years left on his deal at the Brittania Stadium – and he intends to appreciate them.

He said: “I’m happy at Stoke so I’m going to stay there. The level is getting higher as the money gets bigger. At one stage the most we’d paid was £8m, £9m for a striker. We’re now signing midfielders for £18 million and will probably spend big again this year.

“If you want to keep progressing you need to move with the times. I always say that when I’m not playing I’m disappointed but the manager has said he knows he can trust me to come off the bench, that I can give him something different and change the game for the team.

“If I’m going to play a number of games, maybe start 15-20 a season, I’m happy with that.”