Darren Fletcher has absolved Chris Iwelumo of any blame for Scotland's ailing World Cup qualifying campaign after the Wolves striker was thrust back into the spotlight.

Fletcher was responding to comments made by Scottish Football Association president George Peat, who pointed to Iwelumo's infamous sitter against Norway last year as the reason why Scotland's World Cup qualifying hopes are now hanging in the balance.

Iwelumo may be recovering from injury and unavailable for selection for the crucial double-header against Macedonia and Holland but has unwittingly dominated the build-up to tomorrow's clash at Hampden as a result of those remarks.

Scotland boss George Burley made a phone call to the player last night to assure him he was not being held responsible for what has been a disappointing campaign so far.

And skipper Fletcher was keen to offer his own support, insisting Iwelumo had the backing of the entire squad.

"We win and we lose as a team," said the Manchester United midfielder.

"Every player makes mistakes - I've made hundreds of mistakes.

"Chris would score that goal nine times out of 10 and it was just unfortunate.

"But we had more chances in that game to win the match and we've had chances in this group that we've not taken.

"I think Chris knows he's got the backing of the players.

"In the dressing room after the game he apologised but the lads were like 'It's nothing to do with you big man, these things happen in football'.

"It's just an unfortunate situation."

Scotland have won just two games - both against Iceland - as they bid to book their place at South Africa next summer and Fletcher claims bad luck has been a factor.

However, he has refused to give up hope of a major transformation in fortunes in the two remaining qualifiers, with six points needed to have a realistic chance of claiming a play-off spot.

He said: "Confidence comes from knowing my team-mates and knowing the staff and everyone involved.

"People can say we are in the position we are in because that's where we deserve to be although we have been mightily unlucky in this group.

"I'm not going to reel off excuses and things that have gone wrong. We've not had the rub of the green.

"You can't say anything about the lads' commitment, that has not been in question at all. I've not seen one player who hasn't given 100% for his country.

"Maybe it's not happened for us and maybe we haven't played as well as we would have liked but commitment can't be questioned and I know, going into these two games, we've still got a fighting chance.

"These players will give it 100%. Macedonia is the first game and we are looking to win tomorrow.

"There will be a full Hampden and there will be pressure but I'm sure the fans will get behind us because they know there is still a fighting chance."

He added: "Determination is stronger because people are writing us off. The players come together, they do get determined and they want to prove people wrong.

"People are saying stuff like it was a disaster performance in Norway. The Norway game was dictated by the referee and different things like that.

"The players gave their best with 10 men for most of the match. We lost 4-0 but what do you do? Do you sit back with 10 men having just lost a goal?

"You are still going to lose the game. We came out and tried to attack and we lost by a few and that was the risk we took.

"We are in this position in the group because that's where we deserve to be but we've still got a chance to put it right."

However, Fletcher claims under no circumstances would he resort to simulation to pick up crucial points - even if it proved to be the difference between Scotland qualifying for the World Cup or not.

He said: "I'd play honestly every time I play.
"Sometimes a keeper can obstruct you and you stumble and fall and there is a difference between that and diving.

"That's where there is not a clear, defined line about how the referee perceives it.

"But if he doesn't touch me, I'm not going down. That's just the way it is."