Lamont and Saints team-mate Euan Murray had to stay away from a Scotland training session in Edinburgh last month when Premier Rugby League chiefs stepped in and said the 10 players selected from the Premiership couldn't go.

Scotland coach Frank Hadden wanted to run through a few things with his squad ahead of the Autumn internationals when they take on New Zealand,
South Africa and Canada – starting with the All Blacks on November 8.

But Lamont and Murray were forced to stay in Northampton and Lamont said: "We are piggy in the middle. We can't sway either way because we will step on somebody's toes.

"It was just one of those things. We get told to go there and then told not to go.

"You can't do much when you are pulled both ways. You have just got to go with the flow."

But after seeing last season wiped out after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament and more to his knee in his second game back with Saints after the World Cup the Scotland call-up was a timely boost for Lamont.

"It is good to be in the thoughts of the selectors because it has been over a year now since I last played for Scotland," he said.

"I just need to get back playing regularly for Saints and then take it from there."

For Scotland it is frustrating – especially when they see Premiership players released for England for special training camps throughout the season.

But in the end the clubs pay the wages and are compensated by England for those training camps.

Saints chairman Keith Barwell is hoping common sense will prevail and the argument sorted out before Hadden's next training camp.

In his programme notes Barwell said: "If not, there is one simple solution.

"The SRU can have all of their players back for the whole 52 weeks, pay them direct and play them for Edinburgh and Glasgow in the Magners League.

"Will this make for a better Scottish national team? Will the players like it? Will it make the SRU more profitable? Answers on a postcard please."

Barwell probably doesn't want any answers on a postcard. But you get his drift.

If Scotland, who get the players five days before an international as decreed by the IRB, want the same privileges as England, then show the
Premiership the money.

Barwell adds: "The Premiership reached agreement with the RFU to release the players for nearly six months each and every year.

"In return they pay the clubs £5.5m so that each club can pay for back-up while the players are away.

"The canny Scots have decided they would like to have the same arrangement. But I keep opening my post every morning and there doesn't seem to be a cheque from the SRU.

"While we want to be reasonable, I have a duty to the club, its sponsors, shareholders and supporters. I hope a diplomatic conclusion is reached."