Albion's Scotland international striker Craig Mackail-Smith has rejected the chance to represent Team GB at the London Olympics.

Mackail-Smith was placed on the shortlist for the squad by coach Stuart Pearce but wants to save his energy for the Seagulls and his country.

He told the Scotland Herald: “I was involved in the play-offs last season (with Peterborough) so didn’t have much time to rest then and it has been a long, hard season this time.

“I could have been tired for next season, I could have got injuries and it could have caused a lot of problems.

“There are so many games in every league you play in and you have to make sure you are prepared to perform well.”

Mackail-Smith is preparing for Scotland’s friendly against USA in Florida in the early hours of Sunday morning as Craig Levein’s side gear up for their World Cup qualifying campaign, which begins against Serbia at Hampden Park on September 8.