Gordon Smith compared Andrew Driver's dilemma over his international future to someone choosing between two potential girlfriends.

But Scottish Football Association chief executive Smith does not believe Driver risks losing both Scotland and England as suitors if he continues to stall on committing to either country.

Smith admits Hearts winger Driver has become a "victim" of the recent rule change - a brainchild of the SFA chief - which allows British passport holders to represent any of the home nations, providing they have been educated in that country for five years.

Driver, who was born in Oldham but has spent most of his life in Scotland, revealed he had still to make a decision whether to remain loyal to his native England or switch allegiance to his adopted nation.

The 21-year-old played for Scotland schoolboys as a youngster but represented England Under-21s in the summer and appears to be genuinely torn.

He confirmed yesterday he would not be in the Scotland squad - which is named tomorrow - for next Saturday's friendly in Wales but said he hoped to make a decision about his future before the end of the year, admitting dragging out the saga would be "disrespectful" to both nations.

But Smith believes Driver should not be rushed, telling Press Association Sport: "I feel sorry for the boy because, at the end of the day, he knows two girls - he's not going out with either of them.

"So he's not upsetting either of them by not selecting one or the other.

"He might still have not made his mind up which one he prefers."

Smith, who insisted he had no personal view on whether he would like to see Driver in a Scotland shirt, added: "I think he's been a victim of this whole thing, because he's being put under pressure.

"He's officially English at the moment because he played for the England Under-21s and he'd have to change his nationality with FIFA.

"Why should he even consider that unless he's going to be selected for Scotland?

"The thing we need to know about first and foremost is where his Scotland career's going.

"If he comes into contention for selection then there's a situation to consider.

"Until that happens, I think the boy should be left alone."

That position would appear to put Smith slightly at odds with Scotland boss George Burley, who wants Driver to proclaim his allegiance to the country before considering him for selection.

Challenged on this, Smith admitted behind-the-scenes talks would have to take place before any public declarations could be made.

Driver yesterday suggested his agent had already been in touch with the SFA.

Smith was speaking at the official opening of Broughton High School in Edinburgh, which includes a floodlit 3G football pitch.

The SFA chief insists such facilities are key to reversing the decline in the standard of the Scottish game.

He said: "It's a marvellous facility; these 3G pitches are the way ahead; we need more of them in the country."

Smith also reiterated his belief Scottish football should be played in the summer months but admitted his proposal had not found favour with the Scottish Premier League.

Despite this, he will press ahead with plans for youth football to take place between March and December, saying: "We're obviously looking to play in the better months of the year, too, for the youth football, trying to get the game played between March or April and December."

(reopens) Meanwhile, Burley must decide whether to select injured Celtic midfielders Scott Brown and Shaun Maloney for the Wales game.

Neither was fit to travel to Hamburg today for their club's must-win Europa League game tomorrow night.